Statement from Michael Kill, CEO, Night Time Industries Association (NTIA):
The Night Time Industries Association welcomes today’s publication of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report Protecting Built Heritage, which reflects many of the recommendations and concerns we raised during our oral evidence to the Committee last year.
For too long, the UK’s nightlife ecosystem has been viewed solely through an economic or licensing lens. This report marks an important shift by recognising that grassroots music venues, nightclubs, LGBTQ+ spaces and other culturally significant venues are an integral part of Britain’s living heritage and deserve greater protection.
We are particularly encouraged that the Committee has adopted one of the NTIA’s central recommendations by calling on Government to introduce new processes to identify and protect buildings with high cultural and social value alongside their architectural significance, explicitly acknowledging the importance of nightclubs, music venues and activist spaces.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said:
“We are extremely pleased to see the Committee recognise that cultural heritage is not confined to bricks and mortar. The venues that have shaped generations of music, creativity, identity and social change are every bit as important as the buildings that house them.
During our evidence to the Committee, we made the case that grassroots music venues, clubs and LGBTQ+ spaces are living archives of British culture. They are places where communities are formed, where new artists emerge, and where our cultural identity continues to evolve. It is hugely significant that this report reflects that reality.
For decades, planning policy and heritage protection have failed to keep pace with the cultural value these spaces provide. The Committee has rightly acknowledged that unless Government broadens its definition of heritage, we risk losing an irreplaceable part of our cultural landscape.”
The NTIA also welcomes the Committee’s wider recommendations around a ‘reuse-first’ approach to heritage buildings, recognising the enormous opportunity to revitalise high streets, protect historic buildings and support economic growth through the creative and nighttime economy. The report highlights the potential for up to 670,000 new homes to be delivered through the reuse of vacant historic buildings while preserving the UK’s cultural fabric.
Kill added:
“This is about much more than preserving old buildings. It is about ensuring that our cultural infrastructure remains active, accessible and economically sustainable. The best way to protect heritage is to keep it alive through meaningful use.
Nightlife venues have consistently been overlooked despite their enormous contribution to local economies, tourism, employment and community cohesion. Today’s report sends a powerful message that cultural value must sit alongside architectural value when decisions are made about the future of our towns and cities.”
The NTIA believes the report provides Government with a clear roadmap for reform and now urges Ministers to implement its recommendations swiftly, including:
- Formal recognition of culturally significant nightlife venues within heritage protection frameworks.
- Stronger planning protections for grassroots music venues and cultural spaces.
- Greater support for the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings for cultural and community purposes.
- A cross-government strategy recognising the role of the night-time economy in placemaking, regeneration and cultural policy.
“This report validates what the NTIA, our members and the wider sector have been saying for many years,” Kill concluded.
“We thank the Committee for listening to the evidence we presented and for recognising that Britain’s nightlife is not simply entertainment—it is part of our national story. We now look forward to working with Government to ensure these recommendations translate into meaningful action that secures the future of our cultural venues for generations to come.”
Read and download the full report below.
