Planning approved for former CHIC premises

A planning application has been approved – on Friday 14th June – by Birmingham City Council for 28 Horse Fair, the former site of LGBTQ+ nightclub, CHIC. The planning proposal, from HZB Management Ltd., which states that there will be a change of use for the first, second and third floors to Air BnB properties (Use Class C1) will carve the site into 10 rental studio flats.

CHIC first opened in 2004, and sadly closed in 2022. The site is currently vacant but was last in use as office space using the upper floors, and a nightclub at ground-floor level.

The application has been approved; subject to conditions from BCC transport department and BCC regulatory services that include: secure cycle storage condition required, all works to remain within the private landownership, no works to infringe out onto the highway, restricted leases/ occupation to a maximum of 8 weeks (to prevent a drift to full residential occupation).

West Midlands Police also added that they had no objections to the planning proposal subject to further conditions including: an additional entrance door to be installed to prevent ‘tail-gating’, CCTV to be placed at the entrance/egress, the perimeter of the development and the entrance/egress to be well lit, to prevent burglary, each individual ‘apartment’ door should be treated as a separate dwelling for the purpose of the standards of door security and to Page 3 of 7 prevent burglary, all interior front doors and the communal entrance doors to be PAS 24 or equivalent standard.

BID Southside, however, recommended refusal of the planning permission.

Lawrence Barton, chair of Southside BID, said: "CHIC was a much-loved LGBTQ venue on Horsefair on Southside with a capacity for 600. Its new owners want to carve it up into flats for Airbnb rentals, which will mean the loss of a great cultural venue which could have been developed for the wider community.

"This is yet one more example of landlords and developers continuing to convert larger properties on Southside into smaller units, which means we’re progressively losing our entertainment venues. We are urging the public to object to the plans to help us support businesses to maintain and develop the wonderful Southside area."

There were also a number of ‘Third Party Reponses’ that objected to the plans including raising the issue that as an iconic LGBTQ+ venue, the space should be preserved as a gay venue. There were also several comments that raised issues regarding the new use as Air BnBs including the strain on police resources, noise complaints from guests, as well as recycling and other servicing.

The conclusion from Birmingham City Council, however, is that the proposed change in use “is considered acceptable, as it would not have a detrimental impact upon the amenity of the surrounding area or on the safety of the highway.”

Full details of the planning permission, including proposed layouts, recommendations and conditions can be found online by searching the ePlanning website: 2024/01520/PA.