- Leader of the Council 'tops out' a new cultural centre in the heart of the borough.
- The venue, due to complete in Spring 2016, will seat 320 people for live theatre performances and cinema.
- Project has been delivered by St James as part of a wider redevelopment of the former sorting office site.
Today (Wednesday 14 October) sees the topping out of a new cultural centre built by St James as part of the Brewery Wharf development in Twickenham town centre.
This live performance space will seat 320 people and has been designed for theatre, cinema and conferences. The venue also provides the local community with multi-purpose rooms for meetings and sports activities.
It will be a landmark building defining the northern approach to the town centre, opposite the station, on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office.
Lord True, the Leader of Richmond Council, performed the topping out ceremony which marks a significant stage in the construction process, with works due to complete in Spring 2016.
Sean Ellis, Chairman of St James Group commented:
"From the outset of the extensive public consultation undertaken by St James, local people made it clear that they wanted a new community facility with space for the culture and arts. The ceremony marks a significant step toward the delivery of that ambition. We have worked closely with the Council to develop the community building, which plays a key part in regenerating this important brownfield site, which was derelict for many years."
Lord True, Leader of Richmond Council commented:
"This is one more stage in the improvement and enhancement of Twickenham to which this Council set itself in 2010. I hope thousands of local people will enjoy the new facilities that are created. This significant regeneration project is going to bring a community heart to a piece of land that has been derelict for so long.
"Over the past few months residents will have been watching the building go up, and it is now taking shape. When it opens, this new building will bring more entertainment to people of all ages in the borough, giving arts and culture a welcome boost, and be a venue for the Music and Drama that we plan for Twickenham in the future."
St James is aiming to complete the community building in April 2016, just two years from Planning Permission being granted. The venue is set within a beautiful new public piazza with restaurants, cafes and water features, bordered by new walkways and cycle paths along the River Crane. It forms part of a development of 110 new apartments and houses, including 11 homes for shared ownership with Thames Valley Housing Associates.