Music Venue Trust Statement On Hackney Council’s Comments Regarding Moth Club
Music Venue Trust welcomes Hackney Council’s recognition of the cultural and community value of Moth Club, and we appreciate the Mayor’s acknowledgement of the Agent of Change principle within the borough’s planning policies.
It is encouraging to hear a clear statement that the Council does not wish to see Moth Club placed at risk. This venue is an irreplaceable part of Hackney’s grassroots music ecosystem, and the support expressed in the Mayor’s comments reflects how deeply it matters to the community.
However, it is important to address the realities of how planning processes play out in practice.
Agent of Change is guidance, not law. While its inclusion in planning policy is positive, it is not a guaranteed safeguard. Decisions still rely on the planning authority’s interpretation, application and enforcement of that guidance. Without active attention, protections can slip, and venues can be negatively affected despite the presence of Agent of Change wording.
We have seen this go wrong before. For example, a residential development opposite an iconic venue in Brixton was initially approved on the basis of a noise report that did not mention the music venue at all. MVT and the venue had to intervene to get the report re-commissioned and properly address the risks. In other cases around the UK, developers have secured planning permission with conditions intended to protect nearby venues, then gone on to ignore those conditions during construction, leaving venues and incoming residents with noise problems and no realistic route to compensation.
These examples illustrate why community scrutiny remains essential, even where councils express support for cultural spaces.
Hackney’s statement sends a welcome signal, but the planning process is ongoing and no application has yet been tested at committee stage. Until we see demonstrably robust protections built into any proposal and enforced through construction, the future of Moth Club cannot be considered secure.
For that reason, Music Venue Trust continues to encourage everyone who cares about Moth Club to stay engaged. Signing and emailing objections remains the most effective way to ensure any development is held to the highest standard, fully complies with Agent of Change principles, and does not create avoidable risks for the venue.
We will continue working with Moth Club to secure an independent, thorough noise survey, maintain close oversight of the planning process, and ensure the voice of the community is heard at every stage.
Hackney Council has expressed its support for keeping Moth Club safe. It is now up to all of us to ensure that this commitment is honoured throughout the decision-making process, so that Moth Club can continue to serve the borough’s artists, audiences and community for decades to come.
