Karaoke may be out of tune with homes plan on Christchurch pub car park

RESIDENTS of a new development proposed for the car park of the Smugglers Run pub in Christchurch could suffer from noisy karaoke sessions, councillors have been told.

Amirez Ltd applied for permission to build a terrace of four houses and three one- and two-bedroom flats in what is currently the car park of the 18th century hostelry, which until last year was known as Ye Olde Starre Inn.

There were over 20 letters of support for the plan, with some residents saying it would be a “massive improvement” to the area and “transform” this part of Purewell.

One said that it would also offer “good quality housing for local people”. There were five objections.

But at a meeting of BCP Council’s planning committee, a report by an environmental officer reported concerns that people living in the new homes would be affected by noise from the nearby pub.

It said: “The noise might consist of music from the pub, open mic night, karaoke, TV broadcasts and people noise from the external seating.”

Councillors were also told that the development would be in a flood risk area and that the defences proposed were not adequate.

Recommending refusal, an environmental officer wrote: “In the event of a failure of risk management infrastructure, or to install or operate the proposed interventions, then the development could be completely inundated with flood waters up to circa 1.7 metres deep over its lifetime.”

The town council has objected to the plan saying it believes it will create an “oppressive built form” at the site and would be too large for it.

The planning committee decided to defer consideration of the application until a later date.