After celebrating an apparent reprieve last year, legendary London club Ministry of Sound is under renewed threat of closure with owners writing to mayor Boris Johnson for his support.

Ministry of Sound’s legendary London base could be no more if a planning hearing at London’s City Hall goes against the club in 50 days. One of the most important party venues in the capital, MoS have written to London Mayor, Boris Johnson to ask him to visit in the early hours of a busy club night to experience what the venue offers to the city and to urge him not to grant permission to property developers who want to build a block of luxury flats, which currently threaten the club’s future.

Ministry’s letter to the Mayor comes in response to Boris’ decision to “call in” a planning application to build a block of luxury flats directly opposite the world’s most famous superclub. 
 
In November last year, Southwark Council’s Planning Committee voted overwhelmingly to reject the application, by Monaco-based developer Christopher Allen of Oakmayne Properties, itself an Isle of Man company, to build a 41 storey residential tower block less than 10 metres from the nightclub, on the Eileen House site.

 
The application was rejected on the grounds that the development breached policy on several counts, including providing no social housing, excessive height and overcrowding, a lack of public amenity and the noise impact from Ministry of Sound on potential residents.   
 
Since coming to power in May 2008, Boris has only called in four planning applications – every time choosing to overturn the original rejection and grant approval.


Last year, some of the world’s biggest DJs and music artists, as well as 26,000 supporters, joined the Save Our Club campaign, which helped convince Southwark Council to do the right thing. Since the campaign was relaunched less than 48 hours ago, 3,000 new signatures have been added to that total.  Now, all this public attention has turned to the Mayor.
 
Lohan Presencer, Ministry of Sound CEO said: “If Boris overturns the democratic decision of Southwark Council he signs the death warrant for Ministry of Sound.  It’s as simple as that.  If he does, he alienates our tens of thousands of supporters in the process. Does Boris really want to lose that many votes in an election year?”

Judge Jules, world famous dance DJ and Ministry alumni, said: 
“The Mayor should be celebrating Ministry of Sound as one of London’s greatest global success stories, not kicking the club and its millions of fans in the teeth.  Do the right thing Boris – please don’t stop the music.”

Tags: Boris Johnson, Ministry Of Sound, Politics