The Stage

Derby council to force Hippodrome owner to make repair work

Published Tuesday 9 September 2008 at 15:45 by Lalayn Baluch

Derby City Council is to force the owner of the Hippodrome to carry out repair work on the listed building, after parts of it were demolished earlier this year.

The authority’s planning control committee has approved the authorisation of an enforcement notice, which will be served to developer Christopher Anthony, who has owned the venue since April 2007.

Speaking to The Stage, a council spokesman added: “We are trying to recover £5,000 from Mr Anthony for works we have carried out on his behalf, and we are considering prosecuting him for damaging a listed building.”

The Grade II listed Hippodrome suffered extensive damage in March, when Anthony said he was undertaking essential repairs. Structural metal beams supporting the roof were removed, destabilising the whole building, while the side walls of the venue were destroyed, along with the stage house and flytower.

He then tried to secure the demolition of the venue, after a report from his structural engineers claimed it was unsafe. The council took legal action to restrain Anthony from carrying out further works, and an injunction was granted by a high court judge.

The notice will force Anthony to repair the building to at least the state it was before the works were carried out.

But according to local reports, a representative for Anthony said that if the notice was granted the developer would appeal because he claims the work that led to the collapse was ordered by the city council. If he does appeal, the outcome will have to be determined by a planning inspector and could delay the effect of the enforcement notice for up to a year, leaving the building with no roof and exposed to the elements.

Theatres Trust director Mhora Samuel welcomed the news. She said: “The Theatres Trust is very pleased to hear that the Council is to serve the enforcement notice on Mr Anthony. It sends a clear message to theatre owners who think that they can act in a similar way.”

The Stage was unable to contact the building’s owner for comment.