Study on Hippodrome 'ready by end of March'

A STUDY into potential uses for Derby's former Hippodrome theatre is set to be completed by the end of March.

Derby City Council and English Heritage commissioned the independent study in the autumn to look at possible future uses of the grade two listed building.

Stuart Leslie, director of legal and democratic services at the authority, said that work would begin later this month after an independent consultant had been found to carry out the work.

He said that the company would be expected to finish the job by March.

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Mr Leslie said the study would build upon an existing "options appraisal" for the site which was carried out last year on behalf of the Hippodrome Restoration Trust.

This appraisal looked at the viability of two theatre options and a nightclub conversion.

Mr Leslie said: "The objective of the study is to review the costs of repair and produce an economic appraisal and feasibility study that identifies and analyses a range of options for the future of the building.

"The work will build upon and critically appraise the existing initial options appraisal previously carried out.

"Decisions about any future action by the city council and English Heritage will be dependent on the outcome of the study."

The study is likely to cost £30,000, of which the council will pay half and English Heritage will fund most of the remainder.

The council had previously been reluctant to spend more money on the damaged building because it had already paid more than £150,000 over the past five years on emergency repairs and court action against the site's private owner.

The Green Lane building was damaged in 2008 during work ordered by its owner, London developer Christopher Anthony.

Later plans by Mr Anthony to turn it into a car park and flats were rejected.