Wandsworth moves to protect London music venues

A number of small live venues in London will be protected from being lost  thanks to a new rule from Wandsworth Council. The local authority has removed development rights from 120 of the borough’s bars and taverns, many of which host live music, by enacting ‘Article 4 Directions’. The owners of these properties now need to seek planning permission before changing the building use or knocking it down. The move was recommended to London boroughs to prevent further music venue closures in the Mayor of London’s Grassroots Music Venues Rescue Plan, which the Music Venues Trust helped deliver last October.

Welcoming the news, Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd tells IQ: “The Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes the use of Article 4 Directions by Wandsworth Council. It’s a really significant breakthrough, taking positive action to balance culture against other demands in London. We hope many other London boroughs follow suit.”

http://www.iq-mag.net/2016/08/small-london-venues-protected-redevelopment/#.V7a0i5grKM9