Angel Place revamp on agenda - The Worcester Observer

Angel Place revamp on agenda

Worcester Editorial 10th Nov, 2021   0

COUNCILLORS will consider the next steps in the £17.9million regeneration of Angel Place when the Policy and Resources Committee meets next week.

The redevelopment, supported by central Government’s Future High Street Fund, will see Angel Place and the surrounding area transformed into a leisure, cultural, entertainment and residential quarter over the next five years.

The centrepiece will be the conversion of the former Scala Theatre and Corn Exchange buildings into a brand new performance arts centre for the city. This will replace the existing Swan Theatre facility based in The Moors, with the Worcester Theatres organisation relocating to the new site in Angel Place. It is anticipated that the new facility will open in 2024.

“It’s fantastic news Worcester will soon have a brand new theatre and performing arts venue, fit for the 21st century,” said Coun Marc Bayliss, leader of Worcester City Council.




“This new venue will not only enrich the lives of local people, but it will also increase foot fall to the north of the city centre and create many new jobs in the creative, construction, hospitality and retail sectors.”

Sarah-Jane Morgan, chief executive of Worcester Theatres, said: “The council’s aspirations to provide a fabulous new cultural venue for the city offers our organisation the ability to develop ambitious plans to bring new artists and fresh professional programming to Worcester, in turn ensuring we are offering more opportunities and engaging with a wider cross-section of the community in years to come.


“Whilst our team will be incredibly sad to leave the Swan Theatre, which has served both our organisation and others so well over the past decades, we recognise that the new facility will provide our team and all those who engage with the arts a venue future-proofed for decades to come.”

Specialist consultants TheatrePlan have now completed a design feasibility study to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to locate the main auditorium, studio theatre, front and back of house facilities, hospitality provision and rehearsal space at the Angel Place location.

If councillors approve the proposals, the next step will be to appoint architects to develop detailed designs for the new theatre, with a view to submitting a planning proposal in the first half of 2022.

Visit www.worcester.gov.uk/council/future-high-streets-funds for more.

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Worcester Observer.

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website.