One of Bristol's best nightclubs has made what it calls a 'positive move' as uncertainty surrounding its future looms.
In June it was revealed that award-winning venue Motion is in jeopardy due to a plan to build flats nearby.
The club's management then announced that the popular In:Motion series is coming to an end after its tenth anniversary, adding to the public concern.
But today its bosses have firmly stated their intentions to remain open through the troubling period, and have submitted a Community Right to Bid application to Bristol City Council in their bid to do so.
What's a Community Right to Bid?
A Community Right to Bid allows communities and parish councils to nominate buildings for listing by the local authority as an asset of community value.
If the building then comes up for sale, the community can 'pause' the sale and take up to six months to negotiate with the landlord and find the funding required to buy it.
A spokesperson for the club said they have made this application to "make our intention clear that if our landlord decides to sell our building we want to buy it."
They added that "we need the city and beyond to get behind us - this is a positive move. We have a great relationship with our landlord and are positive they will see the contribution we make to the city and support this.'
Director Dan Deeks said: "If we were able to buy the building we’d be able to safeguard the venue and be in control of the future of Motion.
"We have a great relationship with our landlord and are positive they will see the contribution we make to the city and support this."
Fellow director Martin Page added that 'in the meantime it’s business as usual as we strive to fight for the venue we love'.
What's the development planned near Motion?
The development area is split into six sites along Silverthorne Lane - from the Avon Street junction to the railway bridge.
The first sites, opposite Motion, have been designated as a mixture of office and commercial space being delivered in partnership with the University of Bristol.
Next door, plots two and three, will be the residential aspect. Bristol-based housebuilder , Studio HIVE, in partnership with Atlas Land Ltd, will be delivering approximately 400 new homes to the site, 20 per cent of which will be affordable.
Behind the residential aspect - next to Silverthorne Lane - will be more office and commercial space also being delivered by Studio HIVE.
Just along from the residential plot is the secondary school, which takes up the largest amount of development land.
The final site, nearest to St Philip’s Causeway, has been designated for student accommodation - with around 641 student flats planned.
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