A STATEMENT ADDRESSING THE SPECULATION ABOUT THE NURSERY NEXT DOOR, THE PLANNING APPLICATION TO TURN IT INTO FLATS AND HOW IT AFFECTS US.
WE AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE.
Nobody is shutting us down, and no upcoming shows are under threat: as a 100% independent, family run venue, we are lucky enough to own the building we operate in. We don’t have a landlord or parent company that can sell out from underneath us. Anyone who has visited us has probably also realised that our team is dedicated to creating a unique cultural space that York can be proud of. Every day the owners and managers are here; not only programming a diverse range of music, DJs, comedians, films, talks and community events; but managing the bar, running the gigs, checking tickets, doing sound, cleaning up or just enjoying ourselves. This is our life. We love what we do. We are not interested in selling our building to be turned into luxury flats. We have been a community driven venue for 4 years now, and a working mens club for a 100 before that.
WE AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE.
However, a planning application has recently been submitted to turn the nursery next door, which was recently closed by its owners, into flats. You can view and comment on the application on the online planning portal using reference 19/01986/FUL or by clicking here
We have objected to this application on the following grounds:
1) The Local plan states that developments cannot lead to the loss of either cultural spaces or nursery spaces
2) The National Policy Planning Framework calls for new developments to have appropriate mitigation from existing noise from nearby music venues
3) The application runs against York’s Purple Flag vision for a vibrant and positive nighttime economy, especially at a time when many music venues are facing threats.
We want to coexist with all our neighbours. We don’t like empty buildings either. But fundamentally, turning the commercial property next door into a residential one would put what we do at The Crescent under threat. Whilst we monitor noise levels inside and out throughout every show, we know from experience that sound complaints from new developments are often inevitable. With the hard work of our supportive friends at the Music Venue Trust, new Agent of Change planning guidance was issued in January that makes it a developer’s responsibility to insulate against noise from pre-existing venues; but this wasn’t mentioned at all in the application submitted. Regardless, planning guidance can only go so far in protecting from complaints once someone moves in. Residential or hotel developments near music venues are often deaths by a thousand cuts.
We need to have a larger conversation around what developers are doing to York, and the impact they are having on its culture. This conversation has become even more urgent with the loss of The Falcon Tap, and shadows hanging over Fibbers and ourselves. That’s why we have been meeting together with friends at other venues such as The Fulford Arms, Victoria Vaults & Micklegate Social, alongside the Music Venue Trust to form a York Music Venue Network. We are asking for the council to support and fund the creation of this network; recognising the risk live music venues face across York and the wider country; as well as the vast benefits that live music and independent venues bring to the cultural economy of York.
WHAT CAN YOU DO:
- Submit an objection to the application next door (19/01986/FUL)
- Buy some tickets for a show or pop by for a drink: better yet, bring some friends
- Talk to your local councillor about how they can create better environment for music venues in York
Meanwhile, we’ll keep putting on great shows that the city can be proud of. We hope you can join us.
See you on the dancefloor,The Crescent
