If you’ve enjoyed the releases we’ve put out by Pet Crow and Unqualified Nurse Band we’re asking you to offer your support to the studio where they were recorded, Snug Recording Company in Derby. The studio, which is run by Robin Newman and Richard Collins, has been based in its current location for around 20 years and is one of the Reckless Yes rosters favourite places to record but is now under threat from a proposed new development.
This is a story that will sound familiar to anyone involved in pretty much any local music scene – music venues in particular have recently found themselves with a fight on their hands as new developments threaten their space or their activity due to the “excessive” noise they create (which is otherwise known as established, vital and valid contribution to culture and economy).
In this case the problem is reversed – the noise of construction work should the proposed development go ahead (for an eight storey block of student flats) would mean recording at the studio was impossible while building was underway. That work could take months – which as any small business owner or person with a modicum of common sense will know is a hella long time to try and last out a fall in or complete loss of trade.
Objections to the application (or support it if you’re that way inclined I guess) can be made on the Derby City Council planning portal until 29 December 2017 and anyone who is past or an existing customer of the studio, or anyone who values what good studios bring to culture and community in their local area and beyond, can make a constructive and polite comment.
Here’s what Snug said, “Snug needs your help.
“This year, although we didn’t make as big a deal about it as we should, was our tenth birthday. Ten years ago we took over The Hive studio and began our own little chapter of the building’s 20+ years of recording music. The neighbourhood has been kind to us, and we’ve been able to continue making great audio with all of our wonderful clients and creatives.
“Unfortunately, this is now under threat due to a planning application to build an 8 story block of flats less than 10m from our front door. The noise generated by this construction work will vibrate through our entire building. No amount of realistic soundproofing measures could block this kind of intrusion and it will go on for months, preventing us from recording. Simply moving the studio will also be costly. We’re not like any other business that can just move to a new office. We have to ensure that we have clean electrics, soundproofing, ventilation, etc. We just don’t have that kind of money in the bank to throw at moving to new premises due to being forced out.
“The planning application includes a noise assessment report, but there is no mention of our business within it (despite it being clearly labelled as a recording studio on the Google Maps image used to illustrate the positions they have taken sound measurements). The report seems only concerned with assessing the levels of traffic and noise from the pub over the road and the effect this will have on the future residents of the development.
“For this reason, we have raised an objection and we’d like to ask that if you’re an ongoing customer of ours – or if you just value what we do and that it helps our community be a creative place – that you might consider raising one too. You can read the application and make a comment via the Derby City Council e-planning website. Time is tight but if we can get enough objections then we might at least have a chance of getting our situation recognised. Please keep your comments constructive and polite, and if you can share this amongst your networks then that’ll help us get the word out quickly. Thank you!
“Finally, I’d just like to stress that we’re not trying to rally a big witch-hunt here. We don’t particularly want to stand in the way of progress or anything, we realise we’re a small business and that this development would create a lot of employment and so on, but this is our livelihoods and we contribute to the livelihoods of many of our clients. Our next step will be to see if we can reach out to the developers and try to find a solution but in the short term, we need to make our concerns known so that the application doesn’t pass through without proper consideration of the wider impact.
“Thanks as always for all your support as clients, friends and people that enjoy the noises we all make.”
