Restoration of the Brighton Hippodrome rolls on
— 18 August 2022 by Lomax Design
Having been left derelict for 15 years, work to restore Brighton’s iconic Hippodrome took a step forward this week after Lomax Architecture submitted a new planning application, which subject to a consent, will ensure the Hippodrome’s future. Our client, Matsim, is determined to have the Venue completed by November 2024, exactly 60 years after it closed as a Variety Theatre.
In an interview with ITV, Simon Lambor from Matsim, said, “It's obviously a very complicated job and we're now at that point where we know what has to happen, and we know how to save the building, so we're well underway with that.”
As a long-standing partner of Matsim, Lomax was appointed to ensure planning permission is granted for this ambitious project, as well as providing designs for the enabling works and coordinating the team of architectural consultants.
Planning, enabling and collaborating
Following other major projects in the City, we’re excited to continue this body of work with the restoration of this strategically important building.
With this well-known landmark situated on a restricted site within a conservation area, the planning process not only demanded specialist knowledge of planning requirements, but also careful consideration of the overall impact the development would have on its surroundings.
The same is true of the enabling works, which must remain sympathetic to the building and the local area. As the lead consultant, we’ve designed a hotel on Ship Street, as well as the conversion of Hippodrome House for use as a hotel and the fly tower as co-working offices.
These developments will provide much needed revenue to finance the heritage project, which is expected to cost in the region of £10 million.
While we await a response from Brighton & Hove City Council, work has already begun to restore some of the opulent design details that make this 125-year-old venue “the finest example of its type in the country.”
You can see some of the ongoing restoration work in this report from ITV Meridian.