Plans for new restaurant in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter approved despite noise concerns

A unit in the historic Birmingham district was seeking permission for a change of use from commercial retail space to a restaurant/bar.

The site in Warstone Lane is now set to be occupied by the ‘House of Chill Restaurant and Lounge’ after the proposal was approved at a council meeting.

A council report said a premises licence was granted earlier this year for several activities, including the sale of alcohol by retail, late-night refreshment and performance of live music.

The submitted floor plan showed a bar area, restaurant area, kitchen, VIP room, performance stage and more.

But the plans sparked dozens of objections, including that the proposed use could be “unsuitable for and incompatible with a primarily residential area”.

At a planning meeting, Councillor Gareth Moore (Erdington, Conservative) supported the plans and said: “City centre living is about having that vibrant, diverse activity taking place.

“We can’t have a ghost town of empty units – restaurants and bars are a good way to fill these spaces.

“From that perspective, I’m very supportive of the application.”

Councillor Martin Brooks (Harborne and Quinton, Independents) added: “As a city, we want to be supportive of the hospitality industry which is somewhat suffering at the moment.

“To some extent if people are living in the city centre, they need to understand there will be that kind-of mixed use of hospitality, residential and all the rest of it.”

The council report accepted the planned restaurant would be located in an ‘urbanised area’ with homes nearby – including apartments immediately above it.

But it said several measures had been proposed in a bid to minimise the potential noise impact.

A recommended noise management plan would include:

• Making sure the front doors to the bar area always remain closed, except during the entry and exit of patrons.

• Patrons being politely reminded upon exit to keep noise to a minimum out of consideration for nearby residential properties.

• If patrons are observed lingering outside the premises for an extended period, they should be courteously asked to move along.

“By following the above plan, it is advised that noise levels would remain below the typical background noise levels,” the report said.

It added: “The proposed change of use would be acceptable in principle and would not have an adverse impact upon the significance of the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area or the character of the Creative District.

“Subject to conditions, the proposed development would not have any adverse noise, odour or highways safety impacts.”