Derby's Guildhall in line for £24m restoration

The building has been disused since 2019

Plans to restore a historic theatre building in Derby have been set out after it was at risk of becoming dilapidated.

Guildhall Theatre in Market Place had been disused since 2019 and needed £10m of repairs to prevent it from falling into disrepair, the city council said.

Work on the Grade II listed building is expected to cost £24.55m, partially funded by Levelling Up funding.

Restoration works are expected to begin in 2025 and be complete by late 2027.

It follows the injection of £20m from the government's Levelling Up fund, which will be evenly split between the council and Derby Theatre, owned by the University of Derby, also set for a revamp.

Derby City Council's cabinet is due to agree terms for the use of funding in a meeting next week.

The authority said it expects the projects will bring £2.7m per year to the local economy.

Derby Theatre, owned by the University of Derby, is also set for a revamp

According to the council, the Guildhall restoration includes a new ground floor café and box office, a remodelled auditorium with more seating, refurbished dressing rooms and a new service lift included in the improvements.

A new courtyard is also planned to be created adjacent to the city's Market Hall, which is also undergoing an extensive renovation.

Work will also be carried out at 30 and 31 Market Place, which adjoins the historic Guildhall, the authority said.

It will be funded by the Levelling Up grant and £14.55m from the council's capital budget.

Derby Theatre's £10m share of the Levelling Up funding will be used to complete a "state-of-the-art new accessible studio theatre and learning and research hub".

Nadine Peatfield, deputy leader of the city council, said the authority was "on a mission to put culture at the heart of [the] city".

"By bringing the Guildhall Theatre back into use, we can not only restore one of our historic buildings but create more space for community-led arts groups to perform right in Derby's cultural heart," she said.