Sheffield nightclub outdoor space to be removed

The Tank club, next to the Odeon cinema on Arundel Gate in the city centre, is expected to have its application to carry on using the space rejected at a planning committee meeting next Tuesday.

Sheffield Council officers have suggested a ‘reduced area’ for smoking with no mobile bar or seating space.

The club wanted to carry on using the space as a smoking area with outside seating and mobile bar facility within a large enclosed area, during the hours of 11pm and 5am.

The outside space has been used in this manner for the past 21 months.

But the current set-up was causing the environment to ‘deteriorate’ and was ‘not in character’ with the surroundings. The 440-capacity club will now have to draw up new plans for its smoking area.

The report said: “There are numerous establishments within the wider city centre which benefit from external seating areas and they are considered to contribute positively to the viability and vitality of centre.

“However, in this case, given the existing use and the associated activities, which involves late-night drinking, it is not the type of use that is encouraged as it will have the reverse effect on deteriorating the local environment.”

The temporary fencing installed outside was described as ‘crude’ and the size of area contributed to ‘significant street noise and activity’.

The report added: “Given the outside space is currently in use, and is therefore unauthorised development, it is necessary to seek appropriate enforcement action and the institution of legal proceedings to secure the cessation of the space.”