‘Agent of Change Benefits the Breadth of Our Cultural Infrastructure’, Says Dame Caroline Dinenage

12.06.2025: Chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee and Conservative MP Dame Caroline Dinenage has hailed the vital importance of Agent of Change, which UK Music has long campaigned for, making the case that venues must be protected in light of the Government's upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Agent of Change is designed to ensure that developers take into account the impact of any new plans on pre-existing businesses like music venues before going they commence work.

For example, this could mean that the developer of new flats would have to take responsibility for soundproofing measures to avoid the risk of new neighbours complaining about noise from a pre-existing nearby music venue.

Inspired by similar protections in Australian law that have helped revitalise the night time and cultural economy in cities like Melbourne, the initiative received cross-party backing in Westminster in 2018 via a UK Music led initiative in support of a Parliamentary Bill sponsored by former Labour government minister John Speller, with music stars including Sir Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Mason, Sandie Shaw, Nadine Shah, Ray Davies, Imogen Heap, Billy Bragg, Feargal Sharkey and Craig David throwing their support behind it.

The campaign led Government to make changes to its National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which sets the parameters by which planning authorities make their decisions. This key policy change was a crucial addition to significantly bolster the framework to make it crystal clear that the Agent of Change will be taken into account for existing businesses, such as music venues, when areas are being considered for redevelopment.

Now, with the Government set to introduce a new planning bill, the focus is once again on Agent of Change to make sure that existing music venues are fully protected in areas that could face redevelopment. This builds on recommendations in UK Music's A Manifesto for Music, published ahead of last years General Election, where we called for Agent of Change to be put into primary legislation and is particularly timely given plans to liberalise the planning system may make things even harder for cultural venues and spaces.

Speaking in support of an Agent of Chance amendment to the new bill, Conservative MP Dame Caroline Dinenage said in Parliament: "This amendment has widespread support.

"It takes forward the recommendation of the DCMS Select Committee in the last Parliament. It's supported by the whole live music sector, from the operators of our smallest pubs, clubs, and venues, to the biggest arenas and stadiums. It'll benefit the breadth of our cultural infrastructure, from our historic theatres to our pulsating nightclubs. It's built on evidence by LIVE, UK Music, Creative UK, the Music Venue Trust, the Night Time Industries Association, and the National Arenas Association.

"It isn't about venues versus developers, it's about making sure we have a balance between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituencies, and our communities."

Protections such as these can be the difference between survival and close for many music venues across the country, particularly in the grassroots sector. In 2024, the Music Venue Trust (MVT) reported that 125 venues in 2023 either shut or stopped live music.

Speaking last year, UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl highlighted the challenges facing grassroots sector: "Grassroots music venues and festivals, studios and rehearsal spaces are facing tough economic pressures and it's vital that the music ecosystem that enables musicians and artists to perform is supported to ensure that everyone - no matter where they live - can have access to music.

"We're looking forward to working with the new Government to ensure that all our towns and cities have thriving music ecosystems that support the growth of the industry - generating thousands more jobs, boosting economic growth and making their areas even more attractive to visitors."