Hampshire theatre in planning permission row

A 450-seat theatre in a village in Hampshire has been told it must cease performances after it emerged it does not have planning consent from the local council.

The absence of planning permission for Titchfield Festival Theatre’s (TFT) Arden stage, which is currently hosting a pantomime, only emerged after concerns were raised about insufficient parking.

Producing over 30 community productions a year, TFT comprises multiple stages and has occupied its current site for 13 years. The registered charity receives no public subsidy and had a total income of £3,184,873 in the year ending June 2022, with an expenditure of £2,986,074.

Fareham Borough Council said the venue has only been granted permission for use as storage and that the company must stop using it as a theatre by 29 February. Titchfield Festival Theatre Limited can appeal to the Secretary of State by 29 December.

In a statement, TFT Artistic Director Kevin Fraser said: "TFT is proud that it has turned around a disused factory site that it has occupied as a theatre for over 10 years, and has spent £1.7m of their own money making it into the largest community theatre hub in Europe.

"TFT's lawyers have already contested this action by Fareham Borough Council and requested the authority to withdraw it."