Pub boss slams council for permitting new flats

A BIRMINGHAM pub owner said he is “disappointed” after councillors approved more than 300 homes across the road from the venue, despite previously voting against it.

Rainier Developments has been awarded planning permission for the 366-home development at Moseley Road and Moseley Street, Digbeth.

The development is across the road from Cleary’s Irish Bar – a pub and music venue which holds latenight live music and DJs.

Owner Patrick Naughton is now fearful for the future of the venue’s late licence.

The committee had previously voted against the plans at a meeting last month after it was heard 46 of the apartments nearest the pub would potentially have to be sealed to protect against noise.

The item went back to officers for reasons for refusal to be drawn up and presented again.

Further representations had been made by the applicants including a number of examples of developments near nightclubs approved by the planning committee which had conditions for sealed homes.

Officers said that a decision to refuse may not be upheld at any subsequent appeal and this time approval was given with seven councillors in favour and three against.

Mr Naughton said: “I am really disappointed, to be fair. I am just worried I am going to lose my late licence eventually. It’s so unfair and it’s what they are doing to our city.

“All the businesses in Digbeth have late licences. It’s important for people to come late to Digbeth, and the night-time economy.”

He said he believed noise from the pub would affect all of the flats rather than the 46 apartments nearest the venue. He added: “We will be applying for judicial review.”

Richard Mees, managing director of Rainier Developments, said: “We welcome the decision by the planning committee. The site is highly sustainable, vacant, brownfield land that requires regeneration. We and the council’s regulatory services team made several suggestions for mitigating noise at source, all of which were rejected by Cleary’s.”

He said there would be no restrictions on Cleary’s going forward and that the site delivered “many benefits” including affordable homes.