Hampshire theatre loses planning appeal

A bid to keep a 450-seat venue in Hampshire that was operated without planning permission has been turned down.

The BBC reports that the Arden venue was constructed behind the existing Titchfield Festival Theatre in St Margaret's Lane, Titchfield, on land purchased in 2021.

Fareham Borough Council issued a Planning Enforcement Notice in November because the building only had consent to be used for storage.

The theatre appealed against that decision but the case was rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.

Titchfield Festival Theatre has now been told it has to stop using the venue for performances by 12 October and remove the stage and seating within seven months.

Ian Bastable, Vice chairman of the planning committee at Fareham Borough Council, said: "I am pleased to see the Planning Enforcement Notice has been upheld and the appeal dismissed.

"It seems extraordinary that, despite concerns raised by the council in connection with creating a large theatre here, the works still went ahead."