Leith Theatre Trust - working to preserve this iconic building

Visit this page to keep up-to-date with the latest goings-on around Leith Theatre Trust.

 

Latest minutes

Arts Fund Prize Application
GENERAL PROGRESS (3rd Mar 2009).

In September, the Leith Theatre Trust agreed to work in partnership with the Cockburn Trust on delivery of an options appraisal. It's purpose is to provide the City of Edinburgh Council [ building owner] and potential funders an assurance that bringing the Theatre building into use is feasible, explain the preferred option including building users, management, how it will be financed and sustained.

The staff from the Cockburn Trust are on target to delivery of the Options Appraisal by December 2009.

The Cockburn Trust specialise in bringing historic buildings back into use and their expertise in this is adds value and capacity to the Leith Theatre Trust enabling us to deliver our objective of bringing the Leith Theatre back into use. Site Link > http://www.conservationtrust.co.uk/cct/

The City of Edinburgh Council have re-confirmed their interest in working with the Leith Theatre/ Cockburn Trust to find a sustainable end use for the building subject to the delivery of a robust business plan. Regular reports on progress are being made to Leith Neighbourhood Partnership.

Options Appraisal Exercise

The Options Appraisal exercise will comprise the following elements: -

  • Fully costed Condition Report (to be undertaken on the whole complex of buildings)
  • Conservation Statement, assessing the historic significance of the complex of buildings
  • Fully costed Architectural Options (setting out a number of uses for the various parts of the complex of buildings)
  • Community Consultation (to be undertaken in tandem with the design development)
  • Market Research (to prove the market for the Theatre and other uses proposed (still to be progressed)
  • Business Analysis (to prove the viability of the capital project and its ongoing sustainability as a cultural venue, including initial discussions/consideration of grant funding available) - still to be progressed.
Options Appraisal Funding

Funding has currently been secured towards the Options Appraisal Exercise from the Big Lottery in the sum of £10,000, which can be broken down as follows: -

Market Research £ 3,500.
Community Consultation £ 3,500 (includes £1,500 contribution from LTT).
Professional Fees £ 4,500.
Sum: £11,500

An application for funding has been submitted to the Architectural Heritage Fund. Further funding applications to cover the balance of the cost of the Option Appraisal are being progressed.

Design Team

Page & Park Architects have been appointed to lead the Design Team for the Options Appraisal. They have some exciting ideas and bring a wealth of experience to us. Site Link > http://www.pagepark.co.uk

Community Consultation/ Market Research

The consultation will take the form of a community 'drop-in' event and an e-survey, together with interviews with key stakeholders over late March/ April. Additional Market Research will then be carried out to determine a viable end-use and design.

Scottish Community Foundation Edinburgh Arts Funding Prize

The Scottish Community Foundation will make an award in 2010 of up to £3 million to a single organisation to support the development of a building of exceptional architectural and cultural merit within the City of Edinburgh, which will enable residents and visitors to the city to experience or participate in the arts. A submission will be made for this Arts Funding Prize.

 

 

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