Government planning inspectors have rejected plans for a new nightclub in Winchester, Hampshire as too big for the city.
The proposal for the 950-capacity venue on the site of the former postal sorting office had been met with strong local opposition, with a formal opposition group, called the Preserve Winchester Group, was set-up specifically to fight the plans.
The council rejected the scheme last year on the grounds that the club did not fit with their aims for that area of the city, but Karma Ltd took the matter to the government planning inspector on appeal.
The inspector rejected Karma's appeal on several grounds, including the need to preserve the appearance of the conservation area, the lack of proper public transport to take people away at closing time, the difficulty in ensuring those using the club would behave once they left and the proposed capacity.
The most serious concern was the impact the club would have on local residents in terms of noise and disturbance.
Nigel Robinson for the Preserve Winchester Group said: "It's excellent news, both for the residents and the city.
"It's taken almost two years to get to this, but I feel vindicated as, no doubt, do the city council."
