Novello Theatre: Vacant building to be offered for sale to community
- Published
The Novello Theatre was built as a picture house in the 1920s
A vacant and run-down theatre building could be sold to the community under plans being considered by a council.
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead proposes selling the Novello Theatre in Sunninghill, Berkshire.
Campaigners lodged an application to register it as an Asset of Community Value which, if approved, would give a local group six months to raise funds.
The council now says it plans to offer the campaigners a six-month window, regardless of the outcome of the bid.
The 100-year-old former cinema in the High Street had been leased to a theatre group for two decades but was handed back to the council last summer, raising fears the site would be redeveloped.
Campaign group Save Novello Picture House wants to restore the building for the benefit of the local community, linking it with neighbouring Cordes Hall under a single charity.
A report to the council's cabinet recommends offering the building for community use for £300,000 before marketing the site for commercial redevelopment.
Save Novello Picture House said Sir Kenneth Branagh supported the campaign
Planning and asset councillor Adam Bermange said: "Although the Novello is not currently listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) under the Localism Act, an application to have it listed has been received, which the council is working through.
"Regardless of whether or not it receives formal ACV status, the council is treating the Novello as if it were an ACV by giving the community a six-month window in which to raise funds to buy the building."
Campaigners say their efforts to save the Novello have gathered considerable support, including from actor and filmmaker Sir Kenneth Branagh, who grew up in Reading.
Any buyer would need to carry out upgrades, including the removal of asbestos, and meeting modern accessibility and energy requirements.
The cabinet is expected to approve the proposal on 24 April.
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