Plans for a new live music venue in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, have been refused by the local council.

Riff Factory, a local recording and rehearsal studio, has been offering local musicians space to practice and record for more than a decade.

The business hoped to turn unused ground floor space into a performance area for acts to play gigs.

A planning application proposed a 70-person capacity venue at its Sutherland Street space.

A supporting statement from Riff Factory submitted as part of the application said: "Since Tom and Ant went into business in 2013, we've welcomed bands for nearly 12,000 rehearsal sessions and more than 1,200 recording sessions. We see ourselves as a community hub for bands and artists, offering opportunities for networking, collaborating, and gig-swapping.

"We now want to take the next logical step in our journey and open a music venue in an available space on the ground floor of the building we currently occupy. We believe there's a strong business case for doing this on-site, as opposed to finding a vacant premises in the city centre.

The plans were supported by other music venues in the city but refused by the council (Nub News).

"Our business model focuses on growth for local artists. The opportunity for nurturing bands and artists as they progress from rehearsal to recording to live performance will be greatly enhanced by having our own venue.

"This is a vital part of our USP (unique selling point), as is our proposed venue's target capacity of 70 persons. The evolution of Riff Factory will bridge the gap between smaller, 40 capacity venues, such as Captain's Bar in Hanley, and larger venues The Underground and The Sugarmill (280 and 450 capacity respectively)."

Despite the plans being supported by other music venues in the city, the planning application was refused by Stoke-on-Trent City Council this week.

An Officer's Report, published by the council, says: "There is no planning history on file for this site. As such it is questionable as to whether the applicant has the correct existing planning permission in place for the use of the site as an existing space for rehearsal, recording and support facilities.

"In light of this situation, the principle of the use cannot be supported as it is not proven that the extension of the site under this change of use to a performance venue could be carried out as an extension to an existing lawful use of the site.

"The application does not provide a clear and unequivocal illustration in respect of impacts on the vitality and viability of town and local centres, transport and highways safety impacts, noise impacts and air quality impacts upon which this application can be determined."

------------

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.