Leeds MP calls for bolstered planning rules to protect music venues

Town hall reforms fail to “adequately protect” music venues from the impact of development, a Leeds MP has warned.

Amid a parliamentary tussle to agree the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill’s final draft, Labour’s Alex Sobel called for minister Miatta Fahnbulleh to “look at the agent of change principle” in law.

Peers in the Lords have pressed for a principle that developers will pay for work to shield new neighbours from the impact of existing businesses, such as noise from nearby gigs and concerts.

But MPs on Monday have voted by 269 to 170, majority 99, to strike it from the Bill.

Communities minister Ms Fahnbulleh suggested a set of existing rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), was a more suitable place to establish the principle.

“I continue to hold that the most effective way to ensure the proper consideration of this principle is through strengthening existing mechanisms,” she told the Commons.

“National planning policy is not wishy-washy, as some have suggested.

“The framework carries significant weight in the planning system and we are already in the most ambitious period of planning reforms in a decade.

“I recognise the concerns that have been raised with me through this debate and it is clear that the principle is not being effectively implemented.

“We are already proposing to update policy to address these issues and I am committed to reviewing the guidance to help disseminate best practice.”

Mr Sobel, the Leeds Central and Headingley MP, warned that “this Bill and the NPPF do not adequately protect venues”.

He added he was looking for “reassurance” that the sector was “not going to see further pressures put on nightclubs and music venues already suffering under, for instance, not so much the music venues but nightclubs, under the business rate increases, obviously all the other cost pressures that have happened recently”.

MPs also voted by 273 to 167, majority 106, to reject a Lords-backed proposal to have strategic authority mayors designate previously developed land for development before choosing greenfield sites for building.

Conservative shadow housing minister David Simmonds, who supported the Lords-backed proposal, said: “It is absolutely critical, particularly with the powers that this Bill brings in for mayors to drive forward this development, that we ensure that brownfield is prioritised to manage the risk that we already see under some mayoral authorities prioritising the easy wins rather than the ones that are most effective in delivering a housing target.”

Ms Fahnbulleh said the NPPF was “the right place to set clear expectations for how and where development should come forward”.

She added: “Imposing a legal requirement in the Bill would risk undermining effective plan-making and local flexibility in supporting sustainable development.”

The minister also said it would “limit considerations of local circumstances” when strategic authority mayors and leaders plan for new building in their areas.