Streatham Hill Theatre campaign “call to arms” ahead of May 22 planning deadline

Ruach City Church has applied to Lambeth Council in south London to change the use of the 2,800 capacity Grade 2 listed Streatham Hill Theatre.

The three-week consultation period on the plan ends in just nine days’ time, on May 22.

Ruach, the new owners, moved in last June, since when they have been holding services there – all without planning permission.

The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre have been working since 2017 on plans to bring the venue back into use. They have a commercial operator on board led by Thom Southerland, Artistic Director of MAST and Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, who wanted to buy it and who still wants to revive theatrical production at the theatre, while working together with the community.

Their plan has been backed by the Theatres Trust, the Mayor of London, Lambeth Council and has the support of high-profile Patrons, including actors Simon Callow CBE and Sir Mark Rylance, choreographer Akram Khan MBE, and national treasure Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE DL.

Ruach’s plan is in clear breach of Lambeth’s current Local Plan which sees the theatre as key to the regeneration of Streatham, stating:

“The council will support the regeneration of the former Streatham Hill theatre to become a major leisure and entertainment venue alongside workspace for creative and cultural industries.”

The Local Plan also states that the “change of use or loss of existing leisure, arts and cultural uses will not be permitted”.

However, following months of negotiations between the Church and Lambeth Planning preceding the planning application, there is concern whether Lambeth Council will abide by its own policies.

The Church says in its planning statement that it will provide some community arts uses to overcome these restrictions, citing promises made at a church converted from a former Grade 2* Cinema in Kilburn, one of a number of its places of worship in this country, the US and Dubai.

It does not provide any evidence, however, of how those commitments have been met at Kilburn.

It accompanies the application with a draft “community use agreement” which allows the church to censor any performances. It forbids anything “discriminatory” and allows the church “complete discretion to determine … what is considered to be discriminatory”.

Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre chairman David Harvey commented:

“It would be a tragedy if the opportunity to return this beautiful building to its intended use were lost. We have been working on this for years with a recognised theatre operator wishing to buy the theatre, with shows at the ready and access to the funds needed for its full renovation. We have huge support for our plans locally, with residents and businesses wanting the theatre to be at the centre of a revitalised High Road, which would encourage audiences from surrounding areas and beyond.

“The area is desperately in need of cultural spaces. We are appealing to all our supporters and those who want Streatham Hill Theatre to live again as a performance venue to object to the Ruach planning application.”

Friends’ Patron Akram Khan MBE commented: “Streatham Hill Theatre has hosted all kinds of dance including Ballet Rambert, the great Pavlova, flamenco and a host of classic musicals. I fully support the Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre in their efforts to bring dance and other genres back to this magnificent venue for South London. The Friends need as many people as possible to oppose the current change of use application 25/01141/FUL at Lambeth’s Planning Portal before its 22nd May deadline.”

Friends’ Patron and actress Catherine Russell, who is a Streatham resident, added: “We need our high road in our community to have some good input into it. We don’t need another church, but we don’t want to lose this beautiful historical building, and we would love to have our theatre back.”