The Office nightclub in Truro plans for flats submitted

The proposals, which were submitted by BW Planning on behalf of Mr. Warwick Royden, would see The Office nightclub in Truro converted into four residential flats occupying the ground and first floors of the building. 

If approved, the nightclub, which closed in March 2020, would be converted into three two-bedroom flats occupying the ground and first floor, with an additional one-bedroom flat occupying the first and second floors. 

The application also proposes some external alterations to facilitate the proposed residential use. 

In the application's design and access statement, the applicant also explains that the reasoning behind the proposals is due to the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis, which have made his original business plan 'impossible' to re-establish. 

The Office closed in March of 2020 (Image: Emma Ferguson)

The statement explains: "The main impacts were lockdown and social distancing measures. Lockdown made opening the premises unlawful, thus closure was not negotiable.

"Social distancing made running a nightclub – needing many customers in this relatively small venue in order to create a busy, lively atmosphere – financially unviable.

"The applicant stresses that his original business plan is almost impossible to re-establish. Some of the customers have reduced their expenditure on leisure and socialising activities amid the widely-reported cost of living crisis, others have never returned.

"A reduced number of entry fees and a reduced number of transactions at the bar make it very difficult to cover business overheads including staff costs, utility bills and the purchase of beverages. A very low or fluctuating profit margin makes it difficult to reinvest in the business."

Truro City Council has recommended the proposals be approved, while public comments include those both for and against the plans.

Charles Gebhard supported the application by saying: "I wished to comment today in full support of this application. I have been involved in the industry for many years, as such I can see how this application can be the only viable way forwards for this type of business.

The inside of The Office nightclub (Image: BW Planning)

"The past few years have been devastating for the sector and there have been no signs of anything changing anytime soon. This is despite the clear efforts of all involved to invent new ways of making a success of the current establishment.

"I can see nothing but an improvement for the building and surrounding area by its conversion to residential, providing much needed, unique housing, and re purposing a lovely building in the centre of Truro - which has clearly run its course as a nightclub."

The Truro Conversation Area Advisory Committee objected to the proposals, stating: "Essentially, this appears to be a case of trying to force an inappropriate new residential use into an existing purpose-designed institutional, social amenity, community building for which it is entirely unsuited.

"This is a most distinctive and historically important (Silvanus Trevail) structure which requires its particular overall massing and format to be retained, along with a new more suitable use reflecting both the interior form and external appearance."