While I welcome the decision of Ruach City Church to allow for the use of the Streatham Hill Theatre for community groups, I share the concerns of local residents and campaigners that the application is not ambitious enough regarding the level of support for theatre in Streatham.
We have an opportunity to bring theatre back to Streatham for good and restore the Streatham Hill Theatre to its former glory. It would be a tragedy if this opportunity slips from the hands of our community. In 2021, Lambeth Council adopted an ambitious local plan that offered support to increasing the arts and cultural offering in our area. I strongly welcomed this.
Unfortunately, this application goes against Lambeth Council’s local plan by not offering enough to support the performing arts in Streatham. I share the views of local residents and campaigners that both Streatham and the Streatham Hill Theatre would benefit significantly from the venue being used for commercial theatre. I understand that there are strong concerns about the current condition of Streatham Hill Theatre and it is likely that renovation works will have to take place in order for the building to be safe for both theatre users and members of the Ruach City Church. It should be accepted that a high degree of capital investment will be required, which using the building for commercial purposes would be able to raise through third parties. I understand that the Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre have already commissioned an economic and viability study into the redevelopment of Streatham Hill Theatre which found that with the right level of investment there “is a viable long-term proposition”.
Under the previous Government, funding to the performing arts and theatre faced deep cuts. This led to many young people, in areas like ours, being deprived of the opportunities that they would have otherwise received to allow their talents take them as far as they will carry them. I am proud to be part of a Government that is committed to breaking down the barriers to opportunity for the next generation. A revised planning application from Ruach City Church that enables commercial usage and the regeneration of a much loved local treasure for both members of the Ruach City Church and the wider community would be a fantastic example of this in action which I would support as a revised application that allows for commercial use wholeheartedly.
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