Theatres Trust downgraded
The Theatres Trust, set up 50 years ago to be the planning advisor on theatre elements of development proposals, has lost its statutory status on England.
The government confirmed the decision to no longer make it a requirement for planning authorities to consult with the trust, a charity, on plans for theatre buildings.
The change, which has been decided on to speed up the planning process to provide more social housing faster, will apply only to England, however, not to Scotland or Wales.
The proposal was put out for consultation last year, and although only 8% of the 1,000 respondents agreed with it and 56% were opposed, the decision has been made to no longer have consultation with the trust compulsory.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said`: “These reforms (the Gardens Trust is also losing its statutory consultation status) will help improve the performance, efficiency and proportionality of the statutory consultee system”, but acknowledged “the longstanding role of the Theatres Trust in the planning process and the value of theatres as important cultural assets.
“The government believes the Theatres Trust can continue its key role in the planning application process without being a statutory consultee.”
Opponents of the decision are concerned that the importance of theatres to our communities’ built heritage was being devalued by the move, and that the trust’s unique specialist expertise in the subject would be lost with planners no longer obliged to consult them. Developers, however, saw it as a reduction in unnecessary consultation in the planning procedure.
The trust’s CEO, Joshua McTaggart. said the work advocating for the nation’s theatre buildings would continue “undeterred” because it was as important now as it was 50 years ago when the trust was set up by act of parliament.
“We know that Theatres Trust’s unbiased expertise in responding to planning applications has been valued by theatres and local authorities alike” he said. “We welcome the government’s acknowledgement of our specialist guidance and we will continue to have a role to play as a notified body when the new system is put into effect.”
These changes will not come into effect until legislation is passed later in the year.
The Theatres Trust is funded largely by income from its ownership of the freehold of three West End Theatres, added to by proceeds from events and donations by supporters.
The news comes as the trust was celebrating the decision by Cannock Chase Council in Staffordshire not to demolish the 427-seat Prince of Wales Theatre there (pictured) after advice from the Theatres Trust which had added the theatre to its Theatres at Risk register last year. The Prince of Wales, opened in 1984, offers a mix of theatre, comedy and live music.