MP supports Agent of Change to protect music venues

The new draft Planning and Infrastructure Bill was debated in Parliament this week, and Dame Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, spoke on her amendment which seeks to help prevent the closure of music venues, by putting a duty on decision makers to apply agent of change principles. She said "These are what existed since the National Planning Policy Statement 2018, and they require developers to make sure their developments do not disrupt existing businesses in the future, as well as places of worship, schools, transport infrastructure and so on. It is good for venues.." She stated that 86 grass roots venues closed in 2024, nearly a quarter of these for operation reasons including noise orders, neighbour disputes and interventions by local councils. Dame Caroline added that the amendment would be good for developers and new neighbours, with consistent application of agent of change principles de-risking and speeding up planning, and that her ammencment has the support of the live music sector.