The Stage

Derby Hippodrome campaigners launch £14m rescue plan

Published Tuesday 15 September 2009 at 14:35 by Lalayn Baluch

Campaigners fighting to prevent the Derby Hippodrome from being replaced with a multi-storey car park have united to launch a new lobby group, which aims to see the venue brought back to life under a £14 million development scheme.

The former variety theatre was partially destroyed in March 2008, after owner Christopher Anthony undertook repair works which lead to an external wall and the roof being demolished, leaving the interior of the building exposed.

Derby City Council is due to consider a planning application submitted by Anthony this autumn, which proposes that the 1914 venue be completely demolished and replaced with a car park, office and retail complex.

Local campaigners have launched the Derby Hippodrome Restoration Fund, and hope to convince the council to reject the planning application and consider reviving the building as a theatre.

Joe Aveline, treasurer of the fund, told The Stage that the group is also fighting to have the building covered up to prevent it being damaged by wet weather and “deteriorating beyond repair”.

He said: “Money is tight these days, but there are funds through the Heritage Lottery Fund, the arts council and European Regional Development Funding, to put a package together [to pay for a development scheme]. It will take some time, but if the building is wrapped up, it won’t be suffering further damage. That is the cardinal thing.”

Jerry Tseng from architectural firm Pick Everard has created a £14 million design for the building, to support the group’s claim that the venue can be revived. Tseng believes it would be possible to restore the building back to its “former glory”, because the demolished parts of the structure were the “less important” elements of the original architecture.

His plan would see the construction of a new fly tower, the auditorium modernised with new technology and 1,000 folding seats, the original plaster work replaced and an energy efficient heating and ventilation system installed.

An additional storey would be erected on top of the building to house dressing room facilities, administration offices and a restaurant.

“I would love to think that the city would use it as a catalyst to regenerate a whole area, because that’s what these projects do,” Tseng added.

In June, the Hippodrome was ranked as one of the top ten threatened theatres in the country for the second year running, in the Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk Register.

Meanwhile, Derby City Council is taking legal action against Anthony for the partial destruction of the building. The hearing is set for February 27, 2010.