A decision on plans to turn legendary Bristol nightclub Lakota into flats has been postponed because of the coronavirus.
Councillors were being recommended to approve the proposals on Wednesday (March 18) but deferred the item for fear that the number of people who wanted to speak at the meeting would pose a health risk.
Hundreds of residents had objected to the plans because of the loss of the iconic Stokes Croft venue, which would be transformed into a multi-use site with 46 homes and business space.
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A new four-storey accommodation block would be built next to 6 Upper York Street, with 20 per cent of affordable housing.
Nightclub owners the Burgess family unveiled the plans in October 2018, announcing in a statement: “It's the right time for us to explore new opportunities.”
The development, submitted by The Old Bottle Works, has been changed slightly since then, including a reduction of eight homes.
Bristol City Council development control committee chairman Cllr Tom Brook told Wednesday’s meeting that the Lakota application, as well as a nursing home extension in Belvedere Road, had been deferred.
He said: “Because of the number of public comments received, we were worried it would cause an unnecessary public gathering if everyone came to speak at committee.
“Also, if there are people who have submitted comments who are self-isolating then they would be deprived of their right to speak at the meeting.
“The two items will come back at a future committee.”
A report by planning officers on the Lakota scheme said: “Fulfilling the Bristol Central Area Plan’s site allocation would act to outweigh the loss of the nightclub.”
It said 281 objections had been received.
