Two Norwich churches to become music venues 

Two Norwich city centres churches will be turned into live music venues despite opposition from local residents.

Norwich City Council has approved the contentious applications to transform the United Reformed Church (URC) in Princes Street and St Michael at Plea church in Redwell Street at a meeting of the planning committee this week.
 
Both applicants succeeded in persuading councillors that the cultural and economic benefits of both proposals outweighed any harm to neighbouring homes. 
 
The plans for the URC sought permission to turn it into an arts centre and events space, hosting concerts, classical music performances, art exhibitions and fitness classes.

The venue, which has been closed since 2020, will host up to 300 people at a time, and some objectors feared it would ultimately become a nightclub. 
 
The issues raised included fears about noise, a rise in anti-social behaviour due to alcohol being consumed, and more traffic, but councillors supported it on the casting vote of committee chairman, Keith Driver. 
 
St Michael at Plea church, which closed as the Revelation Christian bookshop and café last year, will now be turned into a piano bar hosting up to 130 people.
 
Councillors said they recognised the importance of protecting the building and said they did not want to see it remain empty. 
 
See our previous articles on Princes Street URC and St Michael at Plea.
 
Article extracts from EDP24.
 
Pictured above is the final service at Princes Street URC and, below, St Michael at Plea church in Norwich city centre as the Revelation cafe.