Amulet Theatre residential conversion planning application refused

We are pleased that Somerset Council has refused the planning application to convert the Amulet Theatre into residential apartments.

A gift to Shepton Mallet by the local Babycham brewing family, the Amulet is an unusual Brutalist theatre with a retractable seating system, which may be the only one in existence in the UK.

The Amulet was added to our Theatres at Risk Register in 2022, in recognition of the considerable local interest in the theatre being reopened for community use, as well as for its architectural and cultural significance.

We strongly objected to the application to convert the theatre into residential apartments, making the case that the adverse impacts of losing the theatre space would outweigh the benefits of new housing. We highlighted that the Mendip District Local Plan notes a general lack of cultural provision across the wider area and specifically that Shepton Mallet “is arguably less well catered for in terms of cultural venues.”

We drew the council’s attention to the active local community group Let’s Buy the Amulet, that, with our support, is developing credible proposals to buy and reopen The Amulet as a multi-purpose community venue. This has included the group recently using the Amulet for pop-up events, which is further evidence that there is a viable community use for the building.

In refusing the application, Somerset Council agreed with our argument that the proposed development would result in the unjustified loss of a building last used in part as a theatre.

We are continuing to support Let’s Buy the Amulet, who have recently launched a community share offer.