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Hippodrome application to be decided at Planning Committee
The application to transform Brighton Hippodrome and Hippodrome House into a mixed-use development including a performance space, hotel, shop, bar and members’ club will be decided by councillors at Planning Committee on 3 April.
Councillors must consider the historical significance of the Grade II * Listed Building and use as a performance space, alongside details of the submission and the location in the city when making their decision on the application.
The theatre proposal
The application seeks to restore and bring the auditorium back into use as a flexible performance or events space capable of hosting both musical and theatrical performances. It could also be a venue for conferences, exhibitions, banquets, screening films, hosting lectures and weddings.
The decorative plasterwork in the auditorium would be restored with the retention of a number of historic fixtures and fittings. The ground floor of the venue would have a kitchen and bar areas within the auditorium.
A rehearsal performance space will be created on the mezzanine level above the stage’s fly-tower. Additional ‘apart-hotel’ bedrooms will be created on the floor above.
The circle level would give access to an enclosed roof top bar leading onto an external roof terrace.
The ground floor lobby of the auditorium would be converted to a bar/restaurant opening onto Middle Street catering for around 100 diners indoors and outside, subject to permits being granted.
The apart-hotel
The application proposes an extension at the rear and side of the theatre auditorium and infilling the rear car park to create a new 3 to 7 storey apart-hotel providing 62 rooms looking out onto Ship Street, with a new retail unit at ground floor level.
Apart-hotels are apartments where you can stay for a short time and that offer services like a hotel - for example tea and coffee, food and drink, towels and cleaning services. The development of the apart-hotel would help support the restoration of the performance space.
Hippodrome House
The ground floor of Hippodrome House would be remodelled as a private members’ club with a bar, lounge areas and an outside terrace. Licencing restrictions would apply.
At mezzanine level there would be a members’ dining room, with the upper parts of the house remodelled to develop 16 apart-hotel rooms.
Previous applications and consultations
Application BH2022/02443 was published in August 2022 and amendments to the scheme were received in November 2022 and again in February and March of 2023. In these, the apart-hotel was reduced at the rear of the site and the offices originally proposed to be replaced with the rehearsal space which would better support the performance space.
Following amendments to the scheme and a re-consultation in April 2023, the council has received comments from the public both supporting and objecting to the scheme.
How the application will be decided
Councillors will vote on the decision for the application at Planning Committee on 3 April. If a majority vote in favour then the application is approved.
Having studied the application documents and comments received, the committee will also visit the site ahead of Planning Committee where they will hear a report from council planning officers, a submission by the developers and ask questions before voting to grant or refuse.
As the Hippodrome is a listed building located in a conservation area the council has a statutory duty to have special regard to preserving the building, any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses, its setting and the character of the area.
The officers’ report for the committee concludes that there would be some detriment to the building and local area from the development proposed but these are outweighed by the public benefits of restoring and re-using the Grade II * Listed Building in a way that is viable and sustainable.
The report recommends that councillors are minded to grant planning permission, subject to conditions.
You can watch the Planning Committee webcast live on our website from 2pm on Wednesday 3 April 2024.