£5m revamp plans ‘vital for REP’s survival’ set to be rejected
BIRMINGHAM Repertory Theatre’s big plan for a £5 million facelift – said to be crucial to its future survival – is set to be rejected by Birmingham City Council.
The plans have run in to heavy criticism, particularly the proposal for a raised platform at the front of the famous theatre.
Critics say this would cause newlylaid granite blocks put down in the recently completed Centenary Square revamp to break up.
Planning officers have also objected to the idea of a first-floor balcony as well as two 36ft tall ‘gateway’ structures containing LED advertising screens.
They argue it would bring ‘clutter’ to the current building face, ‘disrupt the relationship’ with Centenary Square, and the screens would be ‘visually intrusive’ on the Grade I listed Hall of Memory nearby.
In a report, officers have recommended the application be rejected when it goes before the council’s planning committee today (September 26).
They state they support the ‘aspiration to create a more prominent main entrance’ as well as internal reconfigurations of the theatre.
And there are no objections to installing a new and improved restaurant on the first floor.
But they conclude the current plans would have a ‘detrimental impact’ on The REP building itself as well as the surroundings, and call for a ‘more sensitive’ scheme to be brought forward.
The REP unveiled its plans this summer, saying they were ‘necessary to remain financially sustainable’ in the face of ‘significant’ funding cuts over the years.
The scheme aims to create more ‘non-traditional performance areas’, improve disabled access and in particular increase revenue through more attractive food and drink services.
APEC Architects, who designed the proposal, described the current layout of The REP, which was built in 1971, as ‘disorientating’ and ‘acoustically lively’.
Council officers suggested they lower the internal floor of the theatre to remove the need for the raised platform outside, but this would cost more, according to the planning report.
The current plans have received wide backing from Access Birmingham, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and the city council’s own culture chief Jayne Francis among others.
Rachael Thomas, executive director at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, said: “We believe that our ambitions for The REP will enable us to secure a sustainable future for the theatre and we look forward to presenting and discussing our case with the committee this week.”