Fringe theatre fans in West London were delighted and relieved this Saturday as plans that would have shut down a popular theatre were rejected.
The 50-seater Finborough Theatre, a popular fringe theatre in Earl’s Court that frequently premieres work by new writers and directors (and is currently presenting three world premieres by National Youth Theatre) was threatened with closure after developers planned to separate a flat above the theatre into three apartments. The noise pollution and disturbance from the building work would have prevented the theatre from feasibly continuing its business.
Thankfully, Kensington and Chelsea Council rejected the plans last year, a decision that has been upheld by the Planning Electorate, despite the appeal from the developers. as the building work would have threatened the future of the ‘valued cultural theatre’.