Flats plan above city centre nightclub refused

A bid to turn rooms above a Leicester city centre nightclub into flats has been rejected.

Planners at Leicester City Council said the changes proposed to the three-storey New Bond Street building, last home to Lily's Live Lounge, would have left residents "unacceptably exposed" to noise.

The application was the second for the property, with applicant Nigel Reeves Planning and Urban Design hoping to change the use of the premises and make internal alterations to create five self-contained homes.

But with the latest bid keeping a nightclub or function room on the ground floor, planning officers had concerns.

While planning documents said the nightclub would operate until 23:00, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said council noise officers noted licensing allowed opening until 05:00.

Noise from "customers talking outside smoking, chatting, taxis coming and going" could also disturb residents, officers added.

Concerns were also raised over the living conditions inside as low ceilings on the top floor would lead to "extremely constrained and cramped living conditions", while only roof windows would be possible.

Lower floors would have living room windows close to neighbouring buildings causing an "unacceptable lack of privacy" and a "less than ideal outlook", plannners added.

A previous bid to convert the site into eight flats was withdrawn after planners questioned the loss of a commercial frontage on the ground floor of the building, which sits opposite the Highcross shopping centre.

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