Student flats plan to replace The Charlotte music venue in Leicester
Developers are planning to demolish a well-known music venue to build student flats.
The Charlotte, which has played host to bands including Oasis, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and Leicester's Kasabian, will be turned into 11 student flats if developer Deckchair Ltd gets planning permission.
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Oliver Ford, left, and Tim Sturgess, two directors of the 'culturally-important' Charlotte.
Under the proposals, the bar area would be retained.
But the rest of the building – including the stage and dance area – would become flats featuring 23 bedrooms and a courtyard.
The Oxford Street venue, on the edge of the city centre, only reopened last month after closing earlier this year due to a cash crisis.
It is currently being leased on a temporary contract by a group of managers headed by Tim Sturgess.
He told the Leicester Mercury: "We did take it on on a six-month basis but we were looking to hopefully get a long-term deal.
"It would be sad for everyone, including ourselves, if it is turned into flats.
"We would like to keep it open but we've worked very closely with the current owners and it does need a lot of inward investment, which isn't viable."
The Mercury contacted a spokesman for the new owners when they took over from Punch Taverns in September.
They refused to reveal their identity or comment on plans for the building.
An application has now been submitted to Leicester City Council, although planning officials said they had not got enough information to advertise the notice yet.
Once the application is publicised, people will have three weeks to make objections.
Deckchair Ltd's agent, Landmark Planning Ltd, said the back part of the building would be demolished and an additional floor added if the proposals went ahead.
Following the Charlotte's closure in January, thousands of music fans signed petitions and joined online campaigns to keep it going.
Support for the venue grew again when it reopened and it now has almost 2,700 members signed up to its Facebook group. Band members and campaigners said they hoped to see the venue stay open.
Seb Twigden, lead singer with Autohype, who played at the relaunch night in October, said: "I think it would be a real shame because obviously the Charlotte is such a prestigious venue in Leicester.
"We played on the opening night and it was really good – we were hoping to do more nights like that."
Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said: "It would be very sad because it's certainly an iconic music venue and therefore culturally important to the city.
"There are so many student flats around. We're going to be completely swamped by flats soon."
A spokesman for the city council said any objections would be referred to the planning committee.
She said: "Because of the timescales involved this is likely to be in the new year, if necessary."
Mr Sturgess told the Mercury that gigs would go ahead as planned until their lease was up in March.
He said the new owners were helping his group find a bigger space in the city. He said: "We are close to securing an 1,800-capacity venue and we'd be looking to bring in acts currently bypassing Leicester."
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by Swozi, Leicester
Friday, November 06 2009, 11:05AM
“It amazes me how blind-sided people are about places. Maybe the Charlotte was once a popular thriving venue, but it has been a terrible venue, with no investment for a number of years! It needs substantial financial input to enable it to challenge other venues, particularly those in Nottingham (Rescue Rooms/Rock City), and this investment is not financially viable - it even says this in the article above! a lack of investment in the past has marred any future it may have had, as hosting small american punk bands, local bands and cover bands just isn't enough to turn a profit and use a building of this size.
Students get a bad rep as they're apparently taking over the City, but the City needs them - they bring employment, graduates, support services/retail, and raise the City's profile through their success. More students means more accommodation is required. Placing them near the universities makes more sense in letting them make the terraced streets turn into ghost town for half the year! and lets be fair...most of the empty flats are grotty and in areas you wouldn't want to walk around at night on your own...i certainly wouldn't!
Perhaps people need to also think about the alternatives - planning wise, no permission is required to turn it to a Tesco, and as that particular company has decided to insert a shop on every corner in Leicester, perhaps we should be glad at least something of the heritage of this site is being retained!”
by E. Land, Leicestershire
Friday, November 06 2009, 9:33AM
“I have a very good idea for a new location for students flats. Give them the Town Hall, after all we may as well dispense with the City Council as they are not fit for purpose. We could then transfer all their powers to De Montfort University and cut out the middle man.”
by Steve, LEICESTER
Thursday, November 05 2009, 3:48PM
“I will be gutted if this venue got knocked down and turned to yet more flats.. Is there not enough empty flats in leicester already?
So many clubs have been demolished in leicester in the last 10 years there is no where for people to go anymore.”
by Barry Bonsai, City Centre
Thursday, November 05 2009, 3:47PM
“The City Council are allowing anyone who flashes cash to wipe any sort of heritage be wiped from Leicester, The city will soon be as exciting as Milton Keynes.”
by james, wigston
Thursday, November 05 2009, 3:04PM
“Leicester is a dying city, what little character this place had is fast being destroyed, no wonder the majority of my friends have moved elsewher eor in the process of looking to move elsewhere. There's a big plot of land near jewry wall, i'm sure we could fit some student flats in it, how about the silver arcade, that's been empty for awhile, lets stick some students in there! How about we bulldoze the clock tower, why do we need a big clock, we've all got phones and watches, ideal plot for a few student flats. i despair”