Bars to get new rooftop terrace
Town centre venues to share seating area at Smithfield Centre
AMBITIOUS plans to build a rooftop terrace at two adjoining night-time venues has been approved.
Planners at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council gave the go-ahead for the application at units one and two of Leek’s Smithfield Centre in Ashbourne Road.
Permission to convert unit two into a bar was given by the council in June 2016.
A subsequent application to convert the neighbouring unit one, both under the applicant’s control, was permitted earlier this year.
One letter of objection had been received stating that a roof terrace would have a ‘seriously detrimental effect’ on residents and the environment, as it would lead to increased noise and air pollution, and a greater potential for anti-social behaviour.
The objector also stated that private residences would be overlooked from an elevated position, with views straight across into upstairs rooms.
A decision report by case officer Lisa Howard said: “It is proposed that the roof terrace would be operational from 11am until 11pm seven days a
week and inclusive of bank holidays.
“The Neighbourhood Policing Team have confirmed that the neighbouring property (Beyond
the Pale), which is owned by the same people as unit one (trading as Sparrow Park) is well managed and causes no policing issues.
“This provides a good level of reassurance that the same will apply to unit one, and that every reasonable effort will be made to ensure the proposed roof terrace works with minimal disruption.
“The proposed roof terrace would be formed with the provision of a 1.5m high glass balustrade.
“Other external alterations would be limited to the provision of pedestrian doors to provide external access from the existing units to the roof terrace.
“Views of the terrace from Ashbourne Road would be filtered owing to existing street furniture and a mature tree.
“Notwithstanding this, it is not considered that the development would appear incongruous within the setting of the town centre.
“No objection has been raised by the council’s environmental health officer, who is satisfied with the application subject to conditions to control lighting, the use of amplified music, and the times at which the terrace can be used, would not result in significant harm.”