Brighton and Hove city council has approved plans for an £18m restoration of Brighton Hippodrome by Alaska Development Consultants.
The Grade II* listed building, which was originally built in 1897, will be restored to provide an eight-screen Vue cinema, a new restaurant underneath the building’s iconic dome, a second restaurant at the refurbished Hippodrome House and a new public square just off Middle Street.
The scheme, which is backed by English Heritage, was designed by Russ Drage Architects.
Chris Moore, development manager for Alaska Development Consultants, said: “Following an exhaustive and comprehensive period of design development and planning consultations, we are delighted to be finally in a position to complete what we started over two years ago. Our aim has always been to preserve, restore and enhance this magnificent old building and now, with Brighton & Hove council’s consent, we can put our plans into action and bring this famous building back to life.”
Simon Neate, chairman of Indigo Planning, which advised on the full planning application and listed building application, said: “These are sympathetic restoration plans that retain this wonderful building’s most important historic features and ensure that it is no longer at risk.
“Should there be a workable plan to bring it back into use as a theatre again one day these changes to the auditorium can be reversed, but in the meantime the new cinema and restaurants provide the commercial certainty that will safeguard the Hippodrome’s future and bring it back into use again.”
Jack.Sidders@estatesgazette.com
