'Invest or sell them', the plea from MP to protect Plymouth's best known at-risk buildings
Luke’s Pollard's released his 'Buildings at Risk' list for 2025
A Plymouth MP has issued a fresh call to the owners of the city's most iconic disused buildings to “invest or sell" as he unveils his latest 'at risk' list.
Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, says the list 'features ten important Plymouth buildings that have fallen into disuse, with many suggested by local residents and councillors' and 'unless action is taken, these buildings could be permanently damaged or lost to a fire'.
The Palace Theatre on Union Street – opened in 1898 as a Victorian-era music hall – has been empty for fifteen years and again takes the top spot on Luke’s list
He said: “My Buildings at Risk list shines a spotlight on the iconic buildings in Plymouth that have been left to rot. My challenge to their owners is simple: invest or sell to someone who will.
Earlier this year the Plymouth Palace was named by the Theatres' Trust in a list of 43 UK theatres they had concerns about.
“Plymouth is my home and I’m so proud of our city’s rich history. Our buildings help to tell our story and I will keep campaigning until all of Plymouth’s iconic buildings are brought back into use.”
There are two new entries on Luke’s 2025 list and one re-entry The Reel Cinema returns to the list as efforts to renew it have stalled.The façade of the old Western Morning News building in the city centre, where Plymouth’s local papers used to be published, is a new entry due to the deteriorating state of the façade. The old building behind the pre-war façade was redeveloped decades ago but the historic frontage, one of the few that survived the Blitz and the city centre redevelopment was kept. The art deco-style Colin Campbell House, which is better known to Janners as the old Habitat building. Despite efforts to redevelop the building, development has stalled.
The Grade II-listed Palace Theatre opened in 1898, originally as a music hall, and has since been a nightclub, theatre, bingo hall, and dance academy.
Designed in the Flemish Renaissance style with an art nouveau interior and nautical-themed plasterwork, art nouveau tiles decorate the outside, depicting the Spanish Armada.
The auditorium had a capacity of about 2,500, and famous acts who appeared there include Louis Armstrong, Anna Pavlova, Laurel and Hardy, Frankie Howard and Norman Wisdom.
The building was put up for sale at the end of last year, which was welcomed by Mr Pollard who said there needed to be a city-wide effort to find a new owner to stabilise the building, make it watertight and give it a proper future.
Plymouth historian Chris Robinson said the Palace Theatre would take a lot of money to refurbish, but it was part of Plymouth’s history with massive potential.
“It will eat money, there is no doubt about that, and it will be a question of who can afford it and what use can make it viable.
“I always thought it could be turned into a museum of theatre with its lovely old stage and features.
“It’s a tricky one but I would love to see it done up, it’s a key building.”
Luke’s Buildings at Risk List 2025:
- The Palace Theatre, Union Street
- The Pot Black Building/Mechanics Institute, Devonport
- The Royal Fleet Club, Devonport
- The old Western Morning News building in the city centre - NEW
- The Old Habitat Building in Colin Campbell Court Car Park - NEW
- Stoke Damerel High School for Girls, Devonport
- Great Western Hotel, Union Street
- The Cooperage, the Barbican
- The Phoenix Tavern, near Union Street
- The Reel Cinema, City Centre – RE-ENTRY