Walthamstow Trades Hall, a social club with more than 1,300 paying members, says its future is under threat from a proposal to build 20 flats directly behind it. The club's treasurer, Sarah Brown, fears that residents moving into the new development could complain about noise from the venue's busy events calendar, potentially leading to a review of its late licence.
Proposed development and noise concerns
Astro Developments Ltd. has submitted revised plans for the former Texaco petrol station on Hoe Street, comprising five one-bedroom flats, ten two-bedroom flats, and five three-bedroom flats. The original proposal for 17 flats and a convenience store was rejected following an objection from the Highways Authority over the shop's impact on the adjacent road.
According to the planning application, the entrance of Walthamstow Trades Hall faces Tower Hamlets Road, away from the proposed development, and the rear façade has no windows. The supplied noise assessment states there "appears to be little risk of noise breakout at a level which would likely cause a disturbance."
However, Brown told MyLondon: "We're a very active, well-used club with events on nearly every day of the year. We open until 11pm during the week and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, so our main concern is that the noise assessments were mostly carried out in the morning when the club was shut. The double glazing they've suggested appears to focus very much on reducing road noise from Hoe Street."
Impact on events and community
The club hosts live music, cabaret, comedy, karaoke, drag nights, and a smoking area. Brown warned that losing the late licence would limit the venue's ability to attract acts, impacting both the club and the wider creative industry. She said: "We are a not-for-profit organisation and that means some of our events are run at a loss because we need to have the right variety for all of our members rather than our big sell-out shows. If our late licence was taken away, that would really limit our ability to pull in some of the acts that we have, and that impacts the acts as well as us. It's getting harder and harder for promoters and artists to make any kind of profit themselves."
Brown also highlighted the club's role in the community: "We have over 1,300 paying members but of course anyone is welcome. Seeing the influx of love we've had since talking about the planning application has really reminded us how critical venues like this are for our communities - they bring people together. We were open during lockdown and keep our heating on as much as we can for our older members who might be struggling with their own homes."
Similar fights across London
The fear of noise complaints is not unique to Walthamstow. The Lord Napier Star, Hackney Wick's only pub, is campaigning against a proposal for eight flats, warning "it takes one complaint to get the council involved." In Tower Hamlets, queer venue Love Affair Basement is appealing for financial help amid a dispute with the local authority over a prosecution for noise levels. Other well-documented fights include Hackney's MOTH Club and The George Tavern in Stepney.
Brown said the club is not opposing the redevelopment itself: "We are by no means opposing the redevelopment as we think it would be a great use of the site, given it's been dormant for so long. There are housing shortages everywhere. We just want to make sure that what's proposed is suitable for those next steps."
Walthamstow Trades Hall is hoping to engage with Astro Developments Ltd. to have the plans redrafted to provide better protection against noise. The team has also been in discussion with Waltham Forest Council about the matter.
