The Stage

Derby Hippodrome £1.2m price tag is a ‘joke’, say campaigners

Published Tuesday 8 December 2009 at 17:05 by Lalayn Baluch

Derby Hippodrome has been put up for sale for £1.2 million, in a move that has been branded “ridiculous” by theatre campaigners.

The former theatre suffered extensive damage when contractors hired by owner Christopher Anthony partially demolished its roof and walls in March 2008, while attempting to undertake repair work.

Now Anthony wants to sell the derelict Grade II-listed building for almost triple the amount he paid for it two years ago - a price he claims would cover costs incurred during his ownership.

The news has angered local campaigners, who want to see the theatre brought back to life under a £14 million plan.

Joan Travis, chairwoman of the Derby Hippodrome Restoration Fund, which is leading the campaign, said the asking price was a “joke” and described the building as “negative equity”.

Travis said Derby City Council should force Anthony to undertake repair works on the building, and then obtain it under a Compulsory Purchase Order to ensure its future survival.

She said: “It looks like a bomb has hit it, it is horrendous. If he is going to sell it then he should put it back to the state it was in when he first bought it.

“I think the council should try and acquire the building to as near to nothing as possible, and there is no way that anybody should be trying to offer him even what he bought for it, in the state it is in.”

According to a council spokeswoman, the local authority has finally obtained an order from the magistrates court, which will require Anthony to erect security fencing around the building, as initially requested in the summer.

The spokeswoman said in February the council would consider a planning application lodged by Anthony, which seeks to flatten the Hippodrome to make way for a multistorey car park.

She said until then, it would not be able to consider taking over the building, and that “any such expenditure would have to be carefully assessed, including the overall costs of renovation of the building against possible future viable uses”.

Derby City Council is taking legal action against Anthony for the partial destruction of the building. The hearing is set for February 27 and will not be affected by the sale plans.