Six-year battle to turn Shepton Mallet theatre into homes ends in defeat for developer
A six-year battle over plans to turn a Somerset theatre into new homes has ended in defeat for the developer.
The Amulet theatre in Shepton Mallet, which was built in 1975, has been subject to numerous efforts to reopen or purpose the building since its closure in 2011.
Mr K. Newton applied to Mendip District Council back in July 2020 to turn the building into seven flats, with a retail unit on the ground floor to “offset the cost of maintaining the large property.”
Somerset Council (which replaced the district council in April 2023) refused the plans in August 2025 – shortly after a pop-up programme of summer shows organised by the ‘Buy the Amulet’ group, which wants to bring the building back into regular use for the community.
The Planning Inspector has now confirmed the council’s decision – leaving the door open for campaigners to step their efforts to buy the building.
Planning inspector Verity Simpson visited the site on May 12, publishing her decision on the Planning Inspectorate’s official website.
Ms Simpson noted that part of the theatre, including the main seating area and stage, was currently being used as a commercial gym – but that an application to formalise this arrangement had recently been refused by the council.
She added: “There are no other performing arts or cultural venues within the town that are readily comparable with the Amulet.
“Moreover, it is clear that there is much local support for the building to be re-opened as a performance and community space.
“To this effect, a charitable community benefit society has been established; potential grant funding has been identified; and substantial funds have been raised from a community share offer, towards acquiring and refurbishing of the building.
“Whether or not the community benefit society are currently in a position to purchase the Amulet, the efforts of this organisation demonstrate the considerable local support and demand for the continued use of the appeal site as a theatre and community space.
“I cannot establish that there is not a financially viable demand for its use as a community facility.”
Ms Simpson said the redevelopment of this building could have a negative impact on the town’s conservation area, noting the “collective and individual significance” of numerous listed buildings near the site.
She went on to explain that the Amulet’s brutalist style allowed it to “sit comfortably” with the older buildings around it, citing its “relatively simple, unfussy and lowly adorned exterior”.
She said: “The scheme includes a two-storey extension that would address the historic Market Place.
“This highly glazed addition would be incongruous with the distinctive yet simple exterior detailing more typically found on the Amulet building, and it would thereby harmfully erode the distinctive character of this building.
“Moreover, its scale and forward projection, and the amount and form of the glazing within it, mean that this extension would be a visually prominent and incongruous addition within the Market Place.
“Such development would distract from and reduce the experiential authenticity of the historic market place and the listed buildings within and around it.
“I am not convinced that the proposed scheme is the most appropriate and least harmful way of securing the public benefits associated with the re-use of the building.”
Further details about Buy the Amulet’s campaign can be found at www.buytheamulet.org.uk.
Around £128,000 has been recently raised towards the acquisition of the building through a community share offer – which will operate along the lines of a similar scheme in Frome being orchestrated by Mayday Saxonvale.
Responding to the inspector’s ruling, a spokesperson for the group said: “Both Somerset Council and the planning inspector agreed that although Shepton Mallet does need more housing, there is a stronger need for community facilities and the Amulet still has the potential to be reopened.
“They both said that our campaign and the strong community support show there is significant local demand.
“We opposed the planning appeal because it would have meant the permanent loss of Shepton Mallet’s only large scale performance venue.
“There are many other empty buildings which could be converted for residential use, but there are no other buildings with the potential of the Amulet; which could be easily reopened to provide us with much needed community space and to reinvigorate the town centre.”