Brighton Hippodrome: Frustration at planning 'bureaucracy'

Brighton-based company Matsim said it has tried to “engage constructively” with the Theatres Trust but accused the organisation of only wanting the venue to become a traditional lyric theatre.

Theatres Trust said while it would prefer Brighton Hippodrome to be restored for large-scale theatre use, it would accept proposals if they were “viable”.

Matsim said the 127-year-old venue has never been used as a traditional theatre, has a lack of physical access and would cost more than £30 million to convert.

Simon Lambor, middle right, with Save our Hippodrome members with a new planning application outside Hove Town Hall (Image: Supplied)

Simon Lambor, director of the company, said: “We have tried to engage constructively with the Theatres Trust but after several meetings and the release of their communications through FOI requests it has become clear that their only ambition for the building is to become a lyric theatre.

“After a thorough investigation we have found that they have no statutory power to consult on this building and we will be pursuing any loss we incur if they continue to unlawfully consult on this building.

“If they were a statutory consultee, which they are not, they would be expected to be impartial and unbiased but instead they have been conflicted for many years in their ambitions for a lyric Theatre.

“The local CIC group that they helped set up and fund, have been acting as their proxy. This interference in the planning application has resulted in much delay and frustration.

“Putting aside the risk of it being lost forever, every year the Hippodrome is shut there are life changing interactions missed for thousands of people. Laughs not laughed, singalongs not sung, partners not met and dances not danced.”

People were invited at the end of July to see the restoration to the Hippodrome (Image: The Argus)

Amendments to the scheme were received in November 2022 and again in February and March of 2023. A plan for an apart-hotel has been reduced at the rear of the site and the offices originally proposed for the Hippodrome’s rear fly tower were removed to be replaced with the rehearsal space.

The plans include a three to seven storey apart-hotel building in the rear service yard with retail at ground floor level, renovation of the auditorium as a performance space with a bar/cafe and conversion of the adjacent Hippodrome House to provide a bar and members' club.

Matsim has put in more than £5 millionto completely renovate and weather-proof the roof, as well as remove dry rot from the building.

A Theatres Trust spokeswoman said: “The assertions made by Matsim are incorrect. It is clear from our planning responses that while we would prefer Brighton Hippodrome to be restored for large-scale theatre use, and there is a business case for this, we would accept their proposals if they were viable.

"However, we are not convinced that their plans are viable and have outlined the reasons why in our responses.

“Based on the most recent planning application that we have seen (March 2023) we are disappointed that despite several attempts to engage with Matsim, they have refused to make sufficient alterations to address these concerns.

“Our remit as a statutory consultee on ‘all land on which there is a theatre’ was conferred by law through an Act of Parliament and is irrefutable.