Superclub to appeal over refusal of £5m venue project

The club had submitted plans for a 5m nightspot underneath the "cheese grater" car park in Charles Street.

More than 15,000 members of the public have pledged their support for the scheme but councillors turned down the application on Monday, saying the club could jeopardise the Heart of the City regeneration project.

Objections had come from organisations including City Lofts, which is still trying to market adjacent flats, Sheffield Theatres Trust, Sheffield Hallam University, development agency CreativeSheffield and the nearby 02 Academy.

Yesterday Gatecrasher's managing director Simon Raine confirmed the club was considering launching an appeal.

He said: "We are most disappointed for the 15,000 people who backed us but we refuse to be beaten and will return to the city. The party is not over.

"We have exactly the same goal as Sheffield Council, to regenerate Sheffield and put it firmly on the map in terms of world-class entertainment.

"I find it hard to believe that Sheffield will find another tenant for a 30,000 square foot underground car park."

A spokesman for Gatecrasher said the planning application, which cost more than 70,000 to prepare, was "never given due consideration".

At Monday's committee meeting just one councillor voted in favour of the club.

Committee chairman John Hesketh said: "I would welcome Gatecrasher back into the city – its spiritual home – but this is not the right spot."

Gatecrasher is set to contact by email all those who pledged support for the club, offering free entrance to an event headlined by Paul Oakenfold at Gatecrasher Birmingham on May 1.