Much loved Hackney music venue MOTH Club has launched a petition opposing two new planning applications to build flats nearby which would negatively impact the livelihood of venue.  

Two separate planning proposals to build flats on Morning Lane have been submitted to Hackney Council, sparking fears of ‘noise complaints and conflicts that would threaten the venue’s ability to operate’, the venue outlined in their petition.  

Keith Miller, Events Programmer at MOTH Club told ELL: “They’re trying to build a huge building which will be inches away from our stage and smoking area which are two of the nosiest parts of the whole venue. We just don’t really see how a residential building that close could safely coexist. 

“I worked with a venue before in a really similar situation where an almost identical planning permission thing went through, The Macbeth in Shoreditch, and that venue has now shut down.” 

“What happened was we had to have way more security to manage the queues and the smoking areas. The costs per night were so high that they ended up going out of business and we’re really scared that’s what’s going to happen here.” 

In September, the venue, which sits on the corner of Morning Lane and Valette Street near Hackney Central Station, reached out to supporters to oppose a planning application to build flats. Now, two separate planning applications have been submitted to complete the building. If built as planned, open-air balconies would directly overlook the smoking area and stage wall.  

On an Instagram post, the venue claimed that the new proposal is ‘deliberately split into two applications to avoid the obligation to include social housing’’.  

‘While we fully support the need for more social and council housing, building multi-story blocks towering over an independent venue like MOTH would have devastating consequences for its future,’ they wrote.  

“It doesn’t have any social housing or low cost housing, which we think is pretty disgusting.” said Miller.  

 “The whole street has loads of derelict buildings which could be turned into housing so we’re a bit confused why it has to be on top of us”.  

The petition needs 10,000 signatures before it can be brought to Hackney Council. MOTH club are also being supported by The Music Venues Trust and the Night Time Industries Association.  

According to The Music Venues Trust, 125 UK venues abandoned live music last year with over half shutting down entirely due to average rent hikes of 37.5% meaning venues typically brought in profits of just 0.5%. 

London is home to 94 grassroots music venues which contribute £91.8 million to the cities economy. However, the London Assembly reports that ‘a fifth of venues could be forced to close due to business rates increases.’ 

“Venues are dying every day and once they’re gone, they’re gone and then they can’t come back. It’s not just us under threat; there’s loads of venues nationwide. We all collectively need to put a foot down together and try to stop this” said Miller. 

“It needs to stop or there’s going to be no culture left in Hackney and culture is what has really regenerated the area, it’s why people want to develop here, it’s because of places like this venue. I get upset just thinking and talking about it.”   

The venue are cautious of noise complaints and stirring tensions with neighbouring residents which could put their liscence at risk. Banners outside the venue implore punters to keep quiet.

MOTH club began as an ex-servicemen and women’s club in 1972, previously known as the General Browning Club which is still written on the facade of the building. In 2015, it was taken over by events agency LNZRT, which refurbished the space and it has now become a focal point of Hackney nightlife and the London music scene.   

Lady Gaga, Dave Grohl and IDLES have all graced the stage and the venue is a rite-of-passage place for upcoming bands and artists to play in London. 

“I think it would be very upsetting for a lot of people that come to the shows. It would be a missing steppingstone for a lot of acts. It’s a big moment for most small upcoming bands to play MOTH club and to sell out. That usually signals that you’re on the right track” said Miller.  

“We really want people to sign the petition because we do think our voices will be heard. If we multiply our voices then we’ll have a much better chance of succeeding. People power has worked in the music industry so hopefully people can help us with this developer nonsense.”

A spokesperson for Hackney Council has told ELL: “The applications are currently live, and planning officers will assess the applications against relevant planning policies, guidelines, other material planning considerations and any representations about the proposals.” 

Stephen Davy Peter Smith Architects who submitted the planning application have not responded to requests for comment or to identify the developers behind the scheme.