The Stage

Blears gives the go-ahead for Rambert’s new South Bank home

Published Wednesday 20 August 2008 at 16:35 by Lalayn Baluch

Contemporary dance company Rambert is to have a new purpose-built home, following communities and local government secretary Hazel Blears’ decision to give the go-ahead to a controversial tower block on London’s South Bank.

The Doon Street development, proposed by the Coin Street Community Builders, has been a point of contention for some time.

It has been supported by Lambeth Council, local MP Kate Hoey, and nearby Southbank Centre and the National Theatre, but it has been opposed by English Heritage and Westminster Council. In September 2007 the case went to Blears for a final decision.

Delivering the verdict today, Blears said the “substantial” benefits of the 144 metre-high residential tower and leisure centre - which will also house Rambert - would outweigh its drawbacks.

Rambert chair Prudence Skene said: “We need to move so that we can rehearse in spaces that match the size of the stages we perform on, to be an incubator for new choreography, and to provide unprecedented opportunities for education and learning about contemporary dance, including proper storage and access to our remarkable archive.

“For six years we have been working on plans to move to the South Bank and we have been indebted and most grateful to Coin Street Community Builders and its visionary director, Iain Tuckett, for the donation of this land. We’re delighted with the outcome of the enquiry and look forward to launching our capital fundraising campaign, building on the very generous financial commitments of £3 million we’ve already secured for this project.”

She revealed that the organisation needs to raise an additional £11 million to finalise its plans, and will be approaching individuals, trusts and businesses for sponsorship.

Rambert artistic director Mark Baldwin added: “Rambert Dance Company is at present working on a major new project, Eternal Light, specially composed for the company by Howard Goodall.

“This large-scale work is almost impossible to rehearse in our present building [in Chiswick]. We have nowhere large enough to rehearse dancers and musicians together until we reach the theatre where we are performing, usually the day before a premiere. We so desperately need to move in order to progress.”

However, in a statement issued today, a spokesperson for English Heritage said that the organisation was “appalled” by Blear’s decision, and found her reasons for granting planning permission “incomprehensible”.

The spokesperson added: “Obviously we do not consider this matter closed and we are considering our next steps and the options open to us.”