The Theatres Trust, a national charity for the protection and support of theatres, has The Intimate Theatre on its Risk Register since plans were announced in 2018 for the redevelopment of the site.
At a meeting of Enfield’s Planning Committee last night (Tuesday 18th January) members defered a decision on the redevelopment plans for the Intimate Theatre to seek a greater commitment to theatre performance within the new build proposals. Committee members also expressed a desire to see efforts explored to retain and re-use some of the Intimate’s interesting historic features.
The Theatres Trust welcomes the decision but remains very concerned that the Theatre could be lost.
The application was brought back to the Planning Committee for a fresh decision after the Theatres Trust raised concerns about the original decision-making process back in November 2020. They have strongly objected to the proposals throughout the process and, based on the evidence raised by them and community groups, had hoped that the Committee might decide to refuse the planning application.
Read more from the Theatres Trust website.
At the time of the original application we were approached by some of the theatre groups who use the theatre who were arguing for its retention. However before we submitted any comments, we were also approached by the Church and some parishioners (some of whom may have been members). Aware that The Society was being lobbied by the theatre groups, the Church wanted to explain why the Parish needed a new community hall that is fit for purpose. We asked both the theatre groups and the Parish Priest to submit comments for the Winter 2018 newsletter (see page 11). In view of the controversy and some very heated debate locally, the matter was considered by the Management Committee during 2019 and as the arguments are finely balanced, it was decided to neither support or oppose the proposals.
