Corsica Studios

In my role as Night Czar of London (2016-2024) I worked to protect night time venues from threat of closure using the framework of the London Plan. Included in the London Plan is the Agent of Change Principle, a sound-focused policy designed to protect night time spaces from clashes with residential development. When this happened to Corsica Studios in Elephant and Castle, the GLA sought to enforce the Agent of Change policy.

I chaired the meetings between the Greater London Authority, the developer, the venue, the local authority, their legal, and acoustic representatives over the course of 18 months. This group included Hoare Lea acting for the residential developer and also responsible for the Corsica acoustic design improvements, Suono representing Corsica Studios, peer reviewing and negotiating with the above, and RBA acoustics who supported London Borough of Southwark technically, ensuring the council avoided any pitfalls or problems.

Until the Corsica Studio case, the Agent of Change policy had been untested and unenforced in a legal and practical way. Thanks to the hard work of Jeremy Butt, Tim Street and Torben Andersen, the policy was successfully applied and is now a landmark case study recognised across the world. Hoare Lea, Suono and RBA  were dedicated to finding practical answers to difficult questions, underpinned by their collaborative approach and unflappable professionalism.  Whilst there were some difficult and disagreeable moments in the process, the overall successful outcome of the Corsica/Agent of Change case is a strong example of what can be achieved when dedicated partnership working is put at the heart of a challenge. Hoare Lea, Suono and RBA deeply deserve to be recognised for the crucial role they played in this landmark project.

Corsica Studios is an award-winning, independent grassroots music venue that has been based in the Elephant & Castle since 2002. It provides a space and platform for underground music events, exhibitions, performances and other creative projects. Over this time, it has become a much-loved music venue and hosted many well-known UK and international artists. However, this venue is more than just a business: it is an extremely personal creative venture that over the last twenty years has required a huge amount of time, money, energy and personal sacrifice.

Since our inception we have been committed to the idea that art and music is a vital part of society, and we are proud to have become a key part of London’s musical infrastructure. It is in this context that a CPO notice received in early 2023 to forcibly relocate Corsica came as a huge concern. We had been aware of the development plans for the regeneration of the E+C for several years however it appeared that our presence and operations had been totally overlooked in the planning applications and the apparent failure to recognise our existence and demonstrate how a residential development could co-exist alongside a well-established venue seemed to be a huge oversight. As a small organisation we felt extremely vulnerable to decisions that were being made and we genuinely felt that our business and the venue were under threat. The David and Goliath imposition, despite being clearly antagonistic to the Agent of Change principle, was very worrying and extremely stressful.

As part of the negotiations involved in the CPO process, we were able to assemble a team of expert advisers and we were introduced to Suono by our planning solicitor, Tim Taylor of Khift (to whom I am equally thankful). From the first moment we met Tim Street we were reassured by his professionalism, capability and experience and we immediately felt that we now had the right level of expertise and support to explore the application in further detail and contest some of the findings. Tim provided a comprehensive analysis of the assessments and reports that had been submitted as part of the Town Centre planning process, andprepared a 29-page report that formed a solid basis to challenge the proposed CPO. Moreover, his enthusiasm and keenness to work collaboratively with counterparts at Hoare Lea and RBA Acoustics, meant that a path to satisfactory outcome for Corsica could be found.

Having survived numerous hardships and challenges over the years, this was by far Corsica Studios’ biggest battle to date, and we firmly believe that Tim and Suono were instrumental to our survival. The support of RBA Acoustics was invaluable, enabling Southwark to understand the complexities of the case and encouraging Hoare Lea to reconsider their position. Hoare Lea should also be commended for being willing to reconsider their position, and for guiding their client toward a more open dialog. However, it is my view that Corsica Studios will live on because of the support and expertise of Suono; they are a credit to the acoustic consultancy industry, and I would not hesitate to recommend them.

Small venues across the UK are facing situations like this on an ever-increasing basis and – as important as this work has been for us – I hope that this outcome can lead to a better working process for other venues such as ours who may be facing similar challenges.

I worked with Tim on a complicated matter where we were acting for Corsica Studios (a music venue) who were being faced with a forced relocation from their established home (under a CPO) due to a consented residential scheme nearby.  Tim’s advice was excellent, prompt and focussed, helping us to not only retain Corsica in its existing location but deliver acoustic measures for improvements to the existing structure.  I would have no hesitation recommending Tim to anyone who is looking for professional and informed acoustic advice.