Council go-ahead brings hope for Hackney Empire meeting tonight
The Hackney Gazette, 11th March 2010The Hackney Empire has been granted a new ray of hope ahead of the public meeting into the theatre’s future tonight March 11. Hackney Council’s planning sub committee last night gave the thumbs up to proposals to redevelop the theatre’s Sixties office block in Wilton Way, Hackney Central, into a seven-storey complex of 25 flats and houses with a community space and café for the theatre.
The Hackney Empire currently owns the building – known as the Bullion Rooms – and will now sell it to developer Thornsett Group.
It had been relying on this income to help pay off its spiralling debts left by the £19.5 million rebuilding project in 2004 followed by year-on-year losses.
The theatre is currently closed but bosses hope this injection of cash will help it rise from the ashes.
The decision comes despite protest from some residents who fear the development will cast the neighbouring Sylvester Path into shadows and destroy a 200-year-old wall.
Jean Field, who has lived in Sylvester Path for 25 years, said: “It is going to be a disaster. The builders went bust on the Ocean, they went bust on the Empire and they will probably go bust on this one. Who picks up the tab?”
The planning permission was granted on the condition that part of the ancient wall on Sylvester Path is protected.
A Hackney Council spokeswoman said: “The Hackney Empire is a much loved icon at the heart of our borough’s cultural life and the council is pleased that the planning sub committee’s decision will go some way in helping it to resolve its financial difficulties.”
The Empire’s interim chief executive, Clarie Middleton said Thornsett Group had an excellent reputation working on community projects, and the theatre would benefit from maximum profits and flexibility over the development’s future use.
The move will enable discussions on the future of the Empire at the public meeting being held at the theatre tonight.
Supporters will be able to put their questions to key management figures, including interim chief executive Clarie Middleton, chairman of the board of directors David Robins and associate director Susie Mckenna.
The meeting will take place from 6.30pm to 8pm in the theatre’s main house.
Entry will be free and it is not necessary to book a seat in advance.
The panel, chaired by arts consultant, Jodi Myers, will take questions from the floor but anyone unable to make the meeting can email their questions in advance to info@hackneyempire.co.uk.