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09
Apr
Future of former Harrogate strip club remains uncertain
A plan to convert the former Kings Club in Harrogate into 14 flats has been refused.
The strip club, which was based on Oxford Street, closed during the first covid lockdown in 2020 and never reopened.
The proposal, which was submitted by Harrogate developer Forward Investments LLP in October 2023, would have seen the first and second floors of the building converted into flats.
According to planning documents, 12 two-bedroom and two one-bedroom flats would have been created on the upper floors of the site.
James Robinson, a chartered building surveyor, said in a statement to the council that the move would allow the building to be brought back into viable use.
He said:
The proposed conversion of the upper floors of 1 Oxford Street, will have a significant net improvement to the surrounding area and economy over the existing strip club use.
This is an important building, located in a very prominent town centre location, and its current use as adult entertainment is not fitting for the surrounding area.
Reason for refusal
However, in a decision notice issued this past week, North Yorkshire Council has rejected the plan on the grounds that it could not reach an agreement over off site open space and affordable housing in the Section 106 legal agreement, which details what measures developers must take to compensate for the impact of their schemes.
Mike Parkes, case officer at the council, said:
No willingness of the applicant to fund the Section 106 agreement has however been forthcoming and consequently in the absence of the relevant provision in off site open space and affordable housing arising from the application the application should be refused.
The Kings Club, which described itself as ‘Yorkshire premier gentleman’s club’, offered topless pole dancing, topless stage strip tease and full nudity lap dancing.
The 200-capacity venue was set out over two bar levels and included 25 strip booths as well as a large dancing stage with a pole.
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