Warner Music over noise from
WARNER Music is threatening to move its “iconic” UK headquarters from Kensington in a planning row with a global investment company.
The music giant, based in Wrights Lane, says proposals to redevelop a “bunker-like monolithic building” next door could adversely affect its artists and prevent them from playing and recording because of noise disturbance. It is fighting plans from Columbia Threadneedle Investments to expand the retail and office building near High Street Kensington Tube.
Warner Music’s HQ has two recording studios for its artists and a reception space which has hosted performances by Ky l i e Minogue, Bastille, Emeli Sandé and
Ed Sheeran. The company, which owns record labels representing artists such as Coldplay and Lily Allen, fears the noise from building work could prevent artists from using the studios — and affect working conditions for more than 600 employees in its offices.
A spokesman for the company told the Standard: “We’re objecting to this planning application as it will significantly impact our business. “The current proposed development will reduce the light coming into our building which, with its glass f a c a d e , wa s specific ally designed to benefit from it. This would alter the ways in which we could use the building, which is an iconic location in t h e mu s i c industry, including the hosting of showcase performances from artists. “We’ve been a