Theatre revamp hiccup as government cash can't be released until late-2026

THE final business case for revamping the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil can't be sent to the government until planning permission has been secured - which may not be until late-2026.

- DANIEL MUMBY Local democracy journalist

Somerset Council originally intended to undertake a £30m revamp of the venue (which was temporarily closed in April 2023), but this was put on hold in October 2023 in light of high inflation and interest rates.

The council is now pursuing a scaled-down redevelopment costing £15m, with Yeovil Town Council agreeing in early-October to take out a loan of around £3.3m to ensure the project could be fully funded.

But Somerset Council has now revealed that the final business case for the project - needed to release a key central government grant - won't be submitted until planning permission for the amended proposals has been granted.

Of the £15m budget for the theatre’s regeneration, £10m comes from a ring-fenced grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which was first secured in March 2021 with the involvement of Arts Council England.