Sheffield Leadmill lose planning application to “gut” parts of the venue if evicted

nme.com:

its owners the Electric Group issued an eviction notice in March 2022, which sparked an outcry across the music industry and from gig-goers.Electric Group, a joint venture between Dominic Madden and Jacob Lewis that also owns London’s Electric Brixton, Bristol’s SWX and Newcastle’s NX, bought the site’s freehold in 2017 and shortly afterwards said they had no intention of closing the venue when they ended the current occupiers’ lease.However, the site’s management soon hit back, arguing that they were being “exterminated by the landlord”.The venue’s current tenant, Phil Mills, previously said he intended to “gut” the premises of its current fixtures and fittings – including the dancefloor and stage – if he was forced to vacate the building (via BBC News).But today (February 17), the city council rejected his plans to demolish a toilet block and infill works bordering Suffolk Road which would “return the building to pre-leasing condition”.The planning officer who recommended the proposed demolition be rejected described it as “purposeless” and without public benefit.The planning officer’s report stated: “In the event [the applicant’s] lease is terminated, they wish to return the building complex to the condition it was in prior to the lease being taken up.

In this instance the proposal will result in the loss of facilities for a music venue/nightclub with no appreciable public benefits.