A major new residential scheme in Birmingham has been approved despite concerns over its potential impact on the city's nightclubs.
The £280 million Stone Yard development, in Digbeth, will have 995 apartments on the site of the former Bull Ring Trading Estate off the main high street.
The project was approved at the latest meeting of Birmingham City Council's planning committee but not before one member said the flats would be the "nail in the coffin" for local nightclubs.
Birmingham developer Court Collaboration is leading the scheme which will have one- and two-bedroom apartments in a series of blocks ranging from six to 30 storeys.
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Designed by Jewellery Quarter practice Glancy Nicholls Architects, it will also have commercial space for uses such as restaurants, bars and cafés, a fitness club and cinema.
Speaking at the committee meeting, Coun Simon Morrall said nightclubs were already being disadvantaged due to the prominence given to residents' noise concerns in licensing decisions.
He added: "The night-time economy is getting hit really hard at the moment during covid-19.
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"If you try and set up a nightclub these days, or a new licensed venue, you will have some property developer saying ‘Oh but what about the noise complaints?'.
"Here you have in Digbeth a high-rise, 30-storey tower block right opposite what is left of the night-time economy in our city.
"I feel as a city we need to have more safeguards in place for the night-time economy.
"If this application does get approved, I will see that as a nail in the coffin, more evidence this city council doesn't give a damn about the night-time economy."
Local campaign group Digbeth Deserves Better also opposed the application, saying it was unsuitable in the area and unsympathetic to Digbeth's character.
A planning officer at the meeting said conditions could safeguard occupiers of the new flats from noise and "it shouldn't create a nuisance".
Alex Neale, managing director of Court Collaboration, welcomed the planning approval.
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He said after the meeting: "As well as delivering additional high-quality apartments, the scheme will provide flexible commercial space which has been specially designed to suit a wide range of business and leisure uses.
"The Stone Yard will be a fantastic addition to Digbeth and will further open up the area, forming a critical part of the city's economic recovery strategy following the covid-19 pandemic.
"We look forward to starting work on-site, with a target of commencing during quarter one 2021."