A beloved Hackney rooftop bar and a popular nightclub have said they have been put at risk by plans to build a “luxury block of flats” across the street.
Netil360 in London Fields, which often has customers queuing on several flights of stairs to get into the venue on a busy night, has warned that its skyline views of central London could be spoilt by plans to build a six-storey development a street away.
Planning documents submitted to Hackney Council show a block could be built directly south of Netil360 where Bocking Street meets Mare Street.
The documents show that the existing buildings at the site could be demolished and replaced with a four-storey block with two higher six-storey sections at each end of the building.
In a post on Instagram, Netil360 said plans could “put two of East London’s hallmark venues at risk as well as the long-term locals”.
The post added: “What’s planned? A six-storey development of flats (NOT affordable housing) on Bocking Street, directly neighbouring us and NT’s Loft.
“The flats will overlook the terrace and smoking area of NT’s Loft, as well as tower over Netil360, our open-air rooftop venue whose very essence is the view over London.”
It continued: “We want to stop Hackney falling further into this spiral for more overpriced apartments.”
Rooftop Saunas Hackney, which offers cold plunge pools and a private sauna with a view, is also positioned directly opposite the newly proposed development.
The warning comes weeks after nearby gig venue MOTH club warned that it was also put at risk by plans to build blocks of flats towering over the venue. The clubs are around a kilometre apart.
MOTH, which has hosted intimate gigs with the likes of Lady Gaga, Caroline Polachek and IDLES, previously said plans for flats next door to the venue could put it at risk as its future neighbours could complain about noise “dealing yet another blow to London’s dwindling independent venue scene”.
Plans were submitted to demolish a building directly next to MOTH on Morning Lane weeks after the venue asked gig goers to object to proposals.
Similarly, both Netil360 and NT’s Loft have asked customers and partiers to message Hackney Council to object to the proposals.
