Locals oppose church conversion plan over noise

People living close to a church which could be turned into a live music venue say they fear the noise will cause sleepless nights.

Norwich City Council has granted permission to turn the United Reformed Church in Princes Street, near Elm Hill, into a new 300-seat arts space.

The authority is yet to make a decision on whether the venue can service alcohol and host live music until 23:00 BST.

However, Alma, the company behind the plans, has insisted the space will be "respectful of the area and neighbours".

The building has remained empty since it closed as a place of worship in 2020.

However, the plans have been met with opposition from people living nearby concerned about anti-social behaviour and noise.

Further objections were made to the authority in relation to the alcohol bid.

Opponents to the plans, the Princes House Residents Association (PHRA), representing 64 students living in a block of flats next to the venue, said the site could draw large, noisy crowds and "negatively affect" the quiet community.

Concerns over the plans also include worries the cobbled street will struggle to cope with large numbers of people and that the venue would have "no control" over its customers once they have left and fear this could result in "criminality such as public urination".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Alma had agreed to a condition that a noise-limiting device would be installed on the amplification equipment to prevent excessive noise.

The team behind the project insisted the "programming of the space will be respectful of the area and neighbours" and have called it a "space the local community can gather in as their own".

Councillors will meet as part of the licensing committee to make a decision on the application on Tuesday.

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