Plans to convert offices above a nightclub and bar on Friar Street into flats have been refused due to concerns about noise.

County House, 17 Friar Street, is above Q-Club and Pitcher and Piano in the town centre.

BAE Systems Pension Fund Trustees Ltd submitted plans in July to convert the County House offices into 23 flats.

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But the plans have been refused by Reading Borough Council (RBC) planning officers, who said the developer had “failed to demonstrate that future occupiers of the development would not be adversely impacted by commercial noise”.

The applicant conducted a noise survey between July 2 and 5, 2021, and plans to prevent noise from adversely impacting future tenants.

However, at this time bars and restaurants were operating at reduced capacity due to social distancing rules to help manage the Covid-19 pandemic and nightclubs were not permitted to open until July 19.

Therefore, officers said the noise assessment had not fully considered the noise impacts of the surrounding commercial uses, including the bar and nightclub below.

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Consultants representing Pitcher & Piano had raised concerns about the plans, highlighting the issues with the way the noise survey had been undertaken.

They said Pitcher and Piano is licensed to open and play live and recorded music until 3am, seven days a week, but was only opening until midnight when the noise survey took place.

Meanwhile, Q-Club opens until 3am on Mondays and Fridays and 4am on Sundays but was not allowed to open at the time due to Covid-19 restrictions.

They said the developer would need to consider the cumulative noise impact of Q-Club and Pitcher and Piano, when open until 3am, on potential occupiers.

The County House offices are currently occupied by Clifton Ingram LLP, Haslams Surveyors LLP and M-Brain Ltd, respectively a law firm, chartered surveyor and market intelligence company.