Save Streatham Hill Theatre from change of use to a church

At the Streatham Hill Safer Neighbourhood Meeting on the evening of 21st October when discussing the Criminal and Anti-Social Behaviour (C/ASB) around the slot machine parlour in the front of the theatre, the concerned residents were told that Ruach City Church, the current owners of the building, have planning permission in place to put shutters on the doorways which are the source of a number of the local problems.

On 26th October, work began on shutter installation on the front fire exits of the theatre. Although we welcome any attempts to quell the C/ASB around the theatre, these shutters are problematic on a number of levels.

The only shutters are installed on the front of the building with nothing on the Barrhill Road side, where the alcoves are the key hot spots for use as an open air toilet and drug dealing. However, even if there are plans to place shutters on all of the theatre fire doors, this is to merely apply a ‘sticking plaster’ solution to the major issue of the Merkur arcade, which, as all local residents agree, needs to be removed entirely.

These shutters, like any changes to this magnificent Grade 2 listed building situated in a conservation area, must have planning permission and approval with regard to the design of any works that is in keeping with the SHT’s heritage status.  However having checked with Lambeth, no such permission is in place. Therefore we have reported this unauthorised work to Lambeth Planning Enforcement, who have begun an investigation (26/00650/3LB). This is in addition to other unauthorised works currently subject to Planning Enforcement investigation (including 24/00347/3LB), plus danger caused to the theatre by electrical fires, and the loss of the historic commemorative plaque.