Plans for a new 14-storey apartment tower have been blocked over fears that future residents would get Gay Village venues shut down because of the noise.

The Timber Yard project would see 379 new apartments built on a car park between Pershore Street and Hurst Street in Birmingham city centre's Southside district.

But council planning committee members are fearful of a repeat of the famous 'Fiddle and Bone' case which saw a popular established jazz club shut down, partly due to noise nuisance complaints from residents of a newly built apartment block.

They have now called for further guarantees that nightspots like the Village Inn and Nightingale Club nearby will not be harmed. The Hippodrome theatre and Arcadian Centre are also nearby.

Developers Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital have agreed to provide air conditioning and seal shut bedroom windows fronting Hurst Street - to ensure residents are not exposed to the noise.

But councillor Gareth Moore is so against the plan he temporarily stepped down from the planning committee so he could speak out against the development.

Cllr Moore (Con Erdington) said: "This shows the seriousness of the concerns I have."

CGI of plans to build 379 apartments on a car park at the corner of Hurst Street and Skinner Lane, to be called 'Timber Yard'
CGI of plans to build 379 apartments on a car park at the corner of Hurst Street and Skinner Lane, to be called 'Timber Yard'

He said that the city's vibrant nightlife and Gay Village is a great asset and would be threatened by the development so close to the Gay Village and several popular late night venues.

And added there was a history of residents who move into an apartment knowing it is in a lively thriving area and complaining and getting nearby businesses closed down.

Former Gay Village venue DV8 had suffered such complaints he said.

"While the development is well designed, it does not take account of the practicalities of real life. People will want to open windows. It doesn't offer a good quality of life," he said.

Nick Harrison, speaking for the developer, said their noise abatement measures would "far exceed" those required and residents would not be disturbed.

Both residents and businesses "will happily co-exist", he added.

The council's own environmental services officials recommended refusal on noise grounds but conceded sealed windows had worked in other parts of the city.

CGI of plans to build 379 apartments on a car park at the corner of Hurst Street and Skinner Lane, to be called 'Timber Yard'
CGI of plans to build 379 apartments on a car park at the corner of Hurst Street and Skinner Lane, to be called 'Timber Yard'

Planning committee member Cllr Lucy Seymour-Smith said: "I am not confident this will not impact detrimentally on nearby businesses.

"Other businesses have closed when residents were told about them and I would not like to see that happen again."

Planning committee members also raised concerns over the level of affordable housing, with a £639,920 contribution promised by the developer as well as £300,000 for improvements to Hurst Street.

The tension between new apartment blocks and noisy businesses has erupted in the planning system before and it is not just nightspots which are at risk.

CGI of plans to build 379 apartments on a car park at the corner of Hurst Street and Skinner Lane, to be called 'Timber Yard'
CGI of plans to build 379 apartments on a car park at the corner of Hurst Street and Skinner Lane, to be called 'Timber Yard'

In 2008, pop group UB40 was refused a recording studio and flats development in Digbeth because councillors feared it could threaten the noisy Gun Barrell Proofing House rifle range next door.

But in 2016 they approved flats in Bournville despite fears residents would find noise from the Cadbury factory unbearable.

They voted to defer the Timber Yard plans for further investigation.