Listed building hope to save iconic theatre

Huddersfield Civic Society wants the Palace Theatre, an iconic building in Kirkgate, owned by London-based developer Hallco 1127, to become a listed building.

The society has applied for the listing of the theatre because of the architectural importance of the building's 1937 faade.

In early July the owner served a demolition notice for the theatre, a statutory requirement prior to planned demolition.

However, the society says the approved drawings of the Kingsgate Centre extension planning application clearly show that the faade is to be retained as part of the new development.

The approved planning application makes 25 references to retention and restoration of the theatre's faade.

Society chairman Prof Cedric Cullingford, said: "The owner is technically free to demolish the entire building but by demolishing the whole building, including the faade, it would seem very difficult to implement the 2008 Kingsgate II planning permission in accordance with the approved drawings.

"Demolition of the faade would be a cynical move because the developer, WD Kingsgate Ltd, could then present a fait accompli to the planners.

"Kirklees Council, the planning authority, could then seek enforcement of the 2008 planning consent or accept that it was beaten, take the cheaper option and approve whatever revised application the developer submits. This is no way to run a planning system."

He added: "Until recently the art deco style ceramic faade and ornate windows of the theatre were safe. The developer recognised the importance of the faade and its place in the streetscape.

"Listing was unnecessary. Now that has changed. Currently the building is at risk daily. This means we have had to take action.

"We believe that the proposed demolition could set a dangerous precedent; it could signal to developers that approved planning permissions for the development of heritage assets in Huddersfield can be ignored with impunity. This potentially has disastrous implications for the preservation of Huddersfield's architectural heritage."

The society's listing and conservation officer, Chris Marsden, added: ''I regard the Palace theatre as a potential asset to the streetscape.

"I recognise that in its current overprinted painted state with clumsily designed and placed signs it is not very appealing.''

The society says it is disappointed that Kirklees Council is apparently not prepared to serve a building preservation notice on the owners, Hallco 1127 Ltd.

This would give protection to the theatre for up to six months as if it was a listed building.

This would allow time for an assessment to be carried out by the Secretary of State as to whether the building should in fact become listed or not.

The imposing theatre was originally built as a music hall by Horsfall and Sons in 1909 with ornate decorative plasterwork and an auditorium capacity of 1,614 people. It was badly damaged when a fire broke out during a production n January 1936.

It was substantially rebuilt in art deco style by Ronald Satchwell, at a cost 45,000 and today is one of the last surviving examples of his work. It reopened on March 1, 1937 and at the time had 1,210 seats.

As audiences dwindled, the theatre closed. It reopened in 1959 as a cabaret theatre, later becoming a bingo hall and nightclub.

WD Kingsgate Ltd declined to comment.

A council spokeswoman said: "We understand English Heritage is treating the listing application as a matter of urgency.

"The council has provided relevant information to English Heritage about the building and its planning history to assist in the decision-making process.''