An application for planning permission has been submitted to transform the former home of ATIK into a live music venue. It was first reported in June of last year that development advisors Elwood Fund Management were considering a restorative project which aimed to transform Cantay House, formerly home to ATIK, into a music venue, bar, and cafe on the ground floor of the building. Office space would be reserved for the upper floors, owing to a shortage of “high-quality office space in the city centre”, according to the developer.
Last week, formal planning permission was submitted to Oxford City Council following a public consultation and stakeholder engagement project.The proposal states that plans to repurpose Cantay House date back to December 2023, when an initial meeting was first held to discuss the application. This is a month before the potential closure of ATIK was first reported by news outlets, and precedes the notice of intention that was filed by Rekom—the nightclub operator owning ATIK—in January.
Consultations included a questionnaire that was filled out by local stakeholders, asking them whether Cantay House ought to be redeveloped and whether they had any concerns or queries. Of the 13 respondents, ten supported reviving the area around Cantay House. However, nine raised concerns about ‘anti-social behaviour’, including potential noise complaints. To address these concerns, the new venue is set to be fully soundproofed.