Planners to give go-ahead for venue at heart of culture hopes

The controversial project will also include new council offices, a public library, shops, a hotel, a public square and apartments if it goes ahead as planned by developers Muse.

Outline planning permission for the whole scheme, known as the CCQ, was granted by Doncaster Council in March, with details of each separate phase to be supplied later.

Councillors have since approved detailed proposals for their own new civic offices, which would also include the creation of a new council chamber, giving the building the go-ahead in June.

Now Muse, which is part of the London-based Morgan Sindall group, has submitted its final blueprints for the performance venue which will be built on what is currently a car park.

Plans submitted by the company show the venue on a site of about half an acre between College Road and Waterdale, in front of the existing magistrates court and police station.

According to the drawings supplied, the proposed building will cover around 50,000 sq ft (4,625 sq m) and will contain three performance spaces within a four-storey structure.

A report written by planning officers says: "The purpose of the new performance venue is to create a flagship public building within the CCQ, providing a place for visitors as well as a functional arts and education building.

"The facilities will include a 600 seated theatre with fly tower, a 200-seat or 440 standing studio space, a dance studio, a drama studio, three education rooms, back of house areas and a foyer space with a cafe and bar."

If approved, the northern entrance facade facing the new public square will use glazed panels which the developer says will "enhance accessibility and visual interest".

A "projecting element" will be included which designers claim which will give the building a "distinctive appearance" with the roof and walls extending over the ground on the north and south sides.

It is hoped this feature will give shelter to the entrances.

The eastern side will be built using what is described as reconstituted stone which will "compliment the design of the new Civic Offices" and the southern side will use recycled bricks.

Architects have designed the western side of the building with stone cladding and vertical glass slots which they say would provide views into the foyer of the theatre building.

It is also hoped that the west side of the building could be adapted for future pedestrian connection from the library, which is proposed in later phases of the CCQ development.

The entire project, which aims to redevelop the Waterdale area of Doncaster was instigated by the town's previous elected mayor, Martin Winter, who stepped down from the position in 2009.

His replacement, Peter Davies, vowed to reverse the scheme in his election manifesto, describing it as "idiotic", but was later discovered legal agreements had already been signed.

Planning officers are now set to recommend that the detailed plans for the venue are agreed by Doncaster Council's planning committee when it meets next Tuesday, August 31.

In a report ont he scheme they say: "The principle of building a new performance venue on the CCQ site has been established with the granting of outline planning permission.

"The scale of building is appropriate for this town centre location and the modern design will complement the wider CCQ development".