The Stage

Council seeks High Court help to save Derby Hippodrome

Published Thursday 3 April 2008 at 13:55 by Alistair Smith

Derby City Council has said that it is looking to go to the High Court in London in a bid to prevent the demolition of the Derby Hippodrome.

Yesterday the building’s owner claimed that, following extensive damage to the building last week while his contractors undertook “repairs” on the former theatre, the site was now unsafe and would have to be completely demolished.

Leader of Derby City Council Chris Williamson said: “Following discussions with the owner’s lawyers and representatives, we continue to do everything we can to get this matter into court as soon as possible to secure an injunction [preventing demolition]. It is likely to be a hearing in the High Court in London, in open court. It is a long and complex process, which we have been working on all day. Getting court availability is not a straightforward process.”

The Theatres Trust has said that it is “reassured” by the council’s actions, but stressed that the historic building was still at risk.

Mark Price, planning and architecture adviser for The Theatres Trust, commented: “We were reassured that the council intends to obtain an injunction to prevent the owner from going on site and that a further Urgent Works Notice has been issued to prop up the Macklin Street wall and the proscenium arch. While the owner considers the building to still be unsafe, both the trust’s and the council’s view is that the theatre can be shored up and secured.”

Officials at the trust said they had been concerned that the contractors responsible for the “unauthorised works” on Friday could be allowed back on site to comply with the further Urgent Works Notice. However, they have been assured by the council that the injunction would prevent any inappropriate machinery being used again.

“We were pleased to hear that the council is doing everything it now can to prevent further damage to Derby Hippodrome, including prosecution of the owner and contractor for the unauthorised works and enforcement to restore the theatre,” added trust director Mhora Samuel. “We were doubly relieved at the council’s assurance that they want to see the theatre rebuilt.”

According to the organisation, the events of last week are unprecedented in the history of the Theatres Trust. The last time anything comparable to this happened was in the seventies, when one of the domes on the listed Hackney Empire Theatre in London was demolished without consent. That case went to a public inquiry. The then owner was ordered to rebuild both domes with the same materials and to the same quality as the originals.