A music venue in Salford is worried that noise complaints could threaten its future after the council approved plans for new homes nearby.
A scheme to build 90 flats and townhouses based on the Regent Trading Estate off Oldfield Road was approved by Salford City Council on November 7, in a plot based south of the grade II listed Islington Mill which hosts live events.
The mill is home to the Islington Mill Arts Club, a collective of more than 100 artists based in the former industrial buildings which began when artist Bill Campbell hired a studio at the site in 1996.
Mr Campbell now owns the site and those running the mill are worried that Salford City Council could have jeopardised its future by approving the homes, saying it could lead to complaints from future residents about sound levels.
Their fears were shared by the Music Venue Trust who wrote to the council urging it to take measures to reduce chances of future residents being unable to cope with noise from events.
Islington Mill offers a fifth floor residency space which it invites artists to use, and hosts a mix of gigs, club nights, as well as film and poetry events at the location. It aims to provide opportunities for artists as well as create a welcoming space for the community.
But Conservative Coun Bob Clarke said the venue could end up in the same situation as Manchester’s Night and Day Cafe, which went through a court case about noise levels impacting people living nearby the Northern Quarter site.
A planning report about the new homes near Islington Mill stated that ventilation will mean future residents will not need to open their windows often, which should reduce the impact of noise from the mill.
Mr Clarke said it is “not acceptable” to have a housing scheme where people are “sealed up in buildings” not able to open their windows, and called for a rethink of the plans.
Rebecca Power from Islington Mill said she is “very concerned” about the plans for new homes, telling councillors at a planning meeting that noise complaints could put the mill’s work at risk.
She added: “Whilst we support new affordable housing within our neighbourhood and the opportunity to work with new communities, we believe that the introduction of residential properties so close to our location pose several challenges that could jeopardize the viability of our operations, and impact the quality of life of new residents.
“We do not feel confident that the proposed plans will be sufficient enough and could lead to complaints arising from noise from our venue, our entrance way, and also our outdoor smoking area.”
She asked the council to rethink the scheme and work with ECF and the mill to manage the impact of any noise disturbance on residents.
Mr Campbell added: “I would just like to protect us from future noise complaints that have caused us and our neighbours so much stress.”
A representative from the ECF said the plans will create 90 “much needed” affordable homes in the city.
He added that ECF “understands” concerns about future noise complaints, but said the issue was “thoroughly considered” during the design stage, with the plans being updated to make sure each of the new homes has triple glazed windows to help keep noise within acceptable levels for future residents.
Concerns were also raised about the plans by the Manchester, Bury and Bolton Canal Society, and Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, who said it could impact future efforts for canal restoration in the area.
Despite the concerns, the plans were approved by a majority of the planning committee after an hour-long debate at Salford Civic Centre, with five votes in favour, two against, and one abstention.
Labour Coun Mike McCusker, Salford’s lead member for planning, said he “welcomes the scheme” which will bring affordable homes to the city, describing the design as “very sympathetic” to the canal site and history of the area.
He added that there will be “suitable measures in place” for noise, and allowing residents to open their windows.
