Lambeth Council, 22 January 2020
Questions from Councillors (PDF)

From: Councillor Liz Atkins, Streatham Hill Ward
To: Councillor Matthew Bennett, Cabinet Member for Planning, Investment and New Homes

Streatham Hill Theatre

What is the council doing to ensure that the Streatham Hill Theatre is brought back into use as a thriving community asset?

Answer:

The recently published Streatham Investment and Growth Strategy 2019 -30 has been developed to provide a coherent vision for investment and growth in Streatham. One of the objectives focuses on providing spaces for better and new experiences, with a view to improving existing public spaces to improve visitor experience, create healthier streets, encourage dwell time and attract people to the area.

The strategy commits us to exploring opportunities for Streatham Hill Theatre, with an opportunity analysis and appraisal to explore the feasibility of refurbishing and rejuvenating Streatham Hill Theatre. This should look at owner appetite, funding opportunities, lease structures and operating models. It will also need to identify potential occupant organisations or theatre production groups, as well as broad scope of community uses outside of operating hours. To be successful it will need to accommodate a range of uses and performance types, including rehearsal and community spaces for hire, street-front activation and concessions that operate across the day.

The Council submitted an Expression of Interest to the MHCLG Future High Streets Fund in 2019, seeking £340,000 revenue funding to explore the redevelopment and/ or repurposing of a number of catalytic town centre projects in Streatham, including the Theatre site. Unfortunately the EOI was unsuccessful; however relevant future rounds of grant funding will be applied for.

Supplementary verbal Q&A at Council: