Fears over noise likely to scupper 
bids for later bar opening times

Agent BNP Paribas has submitted an application to Sheffield Council which, if granted, would see Revolution, Bar 23 and The Hop – all in The Plaza on the corner of Fitzwilliam Street and Division Street – opening until 1.30am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and until 12.30am the rest of the week.

However, planning officials in the city have advised members of the planning board that the “proposed extension of opening hours would result in an unacceptable degree of noise and general disturbance in the early hours”.

This, the city planners say, would be “detrimental to the amenities of the locality and to the living conditions of nearby residents”.

The Plaza, made up of bars and restaurants, lies in the heart of Sheffield’s most popular night-time area.

However, partially owing to the fact that the West One apartments complex is directly above the bars, when planning permission was first granted in February 2001 a condition was put on that consent, stating that any venues should only open until 11.30pm.

Since then, a number of further planning permissions have been granted, allowing slightly later opening for bars including Revolution, Bar 23 and The Hop to open up until 12.30am.

These establishments now 
want to open an hour later, in a move which has divided public opinion.

Although 18 letters have been sent to Sheffield Council objecting to the proposal, a total of 11 letters of support have also been received.

Those opposing the extension of opening hours say that the “character of the area has changed as a result of the takeover by the entertainment industry” and the neighbourhood is changing “towards an alcohol-fuelled youth culture”.

One objector told Sheffield Council: “Extending the opening hours would encourage this tendency and reduce the attractiveness of the area to older people.

“Progress is being made with new convenience shopping and enhanced parks and public spaces, but granting this application would work against a sustainable, mixed, balanced town centre.”

Another opponent, meanwhile, said: “The owners of West One are gradually turning the entire ground floor into a homogenous boozer in order to collect more money from rental income.”

Others have pointed out that many residents bought properties in West One with “the assurance that they were in a residential area where all bars must close by 12.30am”.

They say that closing time “does not mean going home time” and there is usually a busy period where revellers gather outside.

However, one supporter, Blundells estate agents, told the council that they “consider the West One complex to be one of the most popular places to live and visit in the city centre”, and said
they had “never had a complaint from a tenant about noise”.

Others behind the later opening hours say the extension will “allow the bars to compete on a level playing field with other bars in the area and will make the whole development more vibrant and alive”.

Failure to keep up with the competition, they say, could result in the bars closing.

In their report to council members, which is set to go before a planning committee meeting on Monday, city planners say that “finding the right balance 
between vitality and living 
conditions in the city centre is difficult.”

They add that the application should be refused as it is contrary to the council’s “city centre living strategy” and, if later opening times are to be considered at West One, “the most appropriate course of action would be a review of existing policies complete with public consultation”.

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