Corn Exchange

How Theatres Trust's planning policy expertise helped protect a community theatre

The Grade II listed Corn Exchange in Wallingford was built as a meeting hall, concert hall and theatre, and was bought and converted to full community theatre use in the mid-70s by the volunteer-run Sinodun Players.

The theatre contacted us in 2017, concerned about a proposal for new residential units directly adjoining the Corn Exchange’s auditorium. The development would have put the theatre at risk of noise complaints from future residents, which could limit the theatre’s operation and at the worst, have a devastating effect on its long-term viability, forcing its closure.

Using the recently adopted Agent of Change principle, we highlighted that responsibility for the avoidance of noise fell to the neighbouring development, rather than the existing venue. We also emphasised points from the National Planning Policy Framework set to safeguard and promote cultural activities and historically significant venues, placing responsibility with the council to ensure the theatre was not unduly affected.

The theatre was able to use the specific planning and policy information to clearly argue the case for refusal of plans. Through multiple planning application resubmissions, our strong objection rooted in planning policy added weight to the campaign and in September 2019 South Oxfordshire District Council unanimously voted to refuse the neighbouring development. The applicant appealed the decision, but thankfully the planning inspectorate agreed with our concerns and dismissed the appeal.

A welcome relief for the Corn Exchange, the ruling also set an important precedent for Agent of Change in safeguarding other theatres and cultural venues threatened by neighbouring developments.

This case study was produced as part of our Fifty@50 campaign to mark our 50th anniversary in 2026.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Sinodun Players