Artist’s impression of how the £73million Guinness building might look

A SIX-floor Guinness brewery, backed by prime minister candidate Rishi Sunak, has been given the green light to open in Covent Garden.

The £73million building with a 200-capacity courtyard was approved despite residents’ protests in a marathon three-hour planning meeting on Monday.

The Covent Garden Community Association and the Covent Garden Area Trust objected to the plans that will transform Mercer Walk, Langley Street, Neal Street and Shelton Street.

Guinness was given permission to build the brewery on the condition the drinks terrace in the courtyard was closed after 9.30pm.

Labour councillor Paul Fisher, who opposed the application, said: “I do see merits. There is a benefit to redeveloping an 18th-century brewery. I am positive about the idea of contributing jobs. However this does represent a disproportionate development. The capacity is too high, the intense concentration in the conservation area is too large. The proposed drinks-led development has a huge impact on what is primarily a residential area.”

He voted to reject the scheme, saying it was not consistent with Westminster City Council’s policies. Labour’s Cllr Jason Williams had voted for the scheme to be deferred, based on changes requested to a roof extension.

Conservative Cllr Mark Shearer said: “I believe the concerns can be managed successfully. The operational management plan is going to be absolutely critical.”

Tory Robert Rigby, a former chair of the planning committee, said: “I feel like the opportunities are too great to miss. We are talking about Covent Garden. This option will bring a lot of people to the area.”

Current chair Ruth Bush had pushed for a deferral so “more of an understanding could grow” about the scheme, adding: “There is a sensitivity about the area in terms of the building and the residents.”

Three members voted for granting, two for deferral and one to refuse.

Several objections had been made to the amount of noise the new venue could create in the middle of a residential area and how the roof terrace on Shelton Street could even overlook their homes.

The new Guinness flagship brewery had been backed by Mr Sunak who had said it would bring tourists back to the centre of London following months of lockdowns.

In January the former chancellor had said: “This multi-million-pound investment is a crucial vote of confidence in our capital. It’s fantastic to see Guinness breathing life into our hospitality and tourism industries.”

Camden Council had also objected over potential noise from drinkers and during construction.

There were 32 objections from Westminster residents. One said: “The streets are very narrow and the buildings very tall which leads to noise echoing and carrying long distances.

“Particularly with the drive to create more street dining and activity in this tiny area, the proposal to create a drink-led attraction of this scale over so many buildings is completely unacceptable.”

In another, a director of a children’s dance school that runs out of the Pineapple studios had said: “I have been teaching and working at Pineapple since 1979. Please consider the amount of drinking venues there are in Covent Garden in comparison to suitable venues for young people to pursue artistic education and exercise. The mental and physical health and safety of our young people is of huge importance, and to be literally surrounded by a culture of drinking does not promote mental health and wellbeing.”

Guinness had said the venue will produce limited-edition beers, offer tours, and will include a restaurant and bar.

Dayalan Nayager, managing director of Diageo Great Britain, said: “We’re excited to create a new home for Guinness in the heart of London.”