A SOMERSET council could borrow £6M extra to upgrade a flagship arts venue after the project costs rose by more than 25 per cent.

South Somerset District Council announced its intention in late-December 2020 to upgrade the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil, expanding and enhancing the venue to allow it to attract bigger shows and higher-profile acts.

The council voted in January 2021 to proceed in principle with the project (which was budgeted at £23.01M), with the government announcing in March that it would provide £10M of grant funding and allow the council to claim back all VAT associated with the project.

But the impact of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic have led to a sharp rise in construction costs – meaning the council will have to borrow more money to keep things going.

Details of the additional borrowing were published ahead of a meeting of the council’s district executive committee in Yeovil on Thursday (February 17).

The council said building projects across the south west had been affected by “unprecedented demand for materials and labour within the construction sector” as a result of three main factors:

  • Post Brexit construction labour migration away from the UK
  • The commencement of a large number of projects following the covid-induced industry shutdown
  • The interruptions to supply chains following the covid pandemic

Coupled with inflation – especially with regard to energy prices – the projected cost of the project has risen from £23.01M to £29.01M – a rise of just over 26 per cent.

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The council said it would be exploring numerous options for funding which could reduce the burden on the taxpayer, including grants from trusts and foundations, local fundraising and the ‘name a seat’ campaign (whereby individuals can have a seat in the new theatre named after them in exchange for a donation).

Octagon Theatre manager Adam Burgan said: “Our plans for the Octagon are to create a flagship centre for the creative arts that will provide amazing opportunities for our residents and bring world class artists to Somerset.

“The plans see the Octagon Theatre transformed into a centre of excellence that will spark economic regeneration for the area and so many opportunities for residents to improve their well-being.

“The venue will mean less trips out of the county to access brilliant shows and entertainment with superb events right on your doorstep.”

The redevelopment will include the construction of a fly tower (enabling shows with wire work), expanding the main auditorium capacity from 622 to 900, and creating two smaller cinema or studio spaces along with a dance studio and a community studio.

Council leader Val Keitch said: “When the Octagon Theatre (then known as the Johnson Hall) first opened its doors in 1974, it served its purpose as a venue where people could come and dance, listen to music or watch shows.

“The needs of the community changed and in 2003, the venue was refurbished with an additional dance studio added and the front of house area extended.

“Again, it served its purpose as a place people could come and do all that they could before, but now also take part in their own creative dance classes.

“Fast forward to today and we are at the point now where once again the needs of the local community have changed.

“We want to add more seats for people to enjoy cultural events, more space for dance classes and other activities, and a café area that’s enlarged so people can relax and enjoy time with loved ones or on their own.

“We also now we want to add cinema screening areas, because people want to discover a new world of entertainment showcasing the best of mainstream films alongside British, independent and foreign language films.

“The Octagon is more than just a theatre, it’s a space to create and provide amazing opportunities for our residents and bring world class arts to Somerset.”

Councillor Mike Best, portfolio holder for leisure and culture, added: “The Octagon theatre redevelopment project isn’t just a case of putting back what was already there, it’s about creating opportunities for our residents and visitors from outside South Somerset.

“The plans have evolved to create a flagship centre for the creative arts and will see the Octagon Theatre transformed into a centre of excellence.

“The redeveloped Octagon Theatre will allow more residents to access quality cultural activities which in turn will enable health communities which are cohesive, sustainable and enjoy a high quality of life; part of the councils key themes for delivery.”

The proposals for additional borrowing will be discussed by the district executive committee on February 17 and go before the full council for final approval on February 28.