Green light for transformation of theatre into business hub

Planning permission has been granted for the restoration and conversion of Swansea’s historic Palace Theatre building. The 132-year-old six-storey structure is set to become home to technology, start-up and creative businesses.Works will include the reinstatement and restoration of the auditorium balustrading. A section of tiered seating will be retained to form social seating and presentation space, with the ability to accommodate small scale events.The interior will retain the existing floors that look down towards a stage – as theatre audiences once would have done.The planning application, submitted to Swansea planners in September, has now been approved. It shows the building’s structure maintained with the retention and restoration of original historic features and the reinstatement of other historic features.An application for listed building consent is being studied by the Welsh Government.The vision for the wedge-shaped grade two listed city centre building includes workspaces for more than 130 people.The plans have been assisted by the public through the Friends of Place Theatre Group and a dedicated Facebook page and by others through engagement with Welsh historic monuments body Cadw, council officers, the Theatres Trust and the Victorian Society.On behalf of Swansea Council, GWP Architecture is leading the Palace project.The site stands close to Swansea’s High Street Station at the heart of the city centre.The Palace Theatre staged performances by stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Sir Anthony Hopkins. It was last used 14 years ago as a nightclub. The council bought the building from private owners this year.If listed building consent is granted in the next few months, transformation work would start next year with it opening in 2022.Funding for the project is being sought from the European Regional Development Fund and the Welsh Government, via the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.The hunt is already on for a lead tenant to run the building.