Project will remodel the existing theatre complex with a new auditorium, cinemas and public spaces as part of culture-led regeneration in the town
Plans by MICA to overhaul The Maltings theatre complex in Berwick-upon-Tweed have been granted full planning permission. The scheme will reconfigure the venue with a new flexible auditorium, two cinemas, rehearsal and café spaces, improved backstage facilities and a new entrance linking Bridge Street with the Quayside.
Paul Mullin, associate director at MICA and project lead, said: “Securing planning permission marks a pivotal moment for the cultural venue in Berwick. The Maltings Theatre is a heritage-led retrofit that balanced respect for the building’s historic character with the need for modern performance and community spaces.
“We worked within a compact site at the heart of a historic town, enhancing the theatre’s visibility and connection to the high street. The new Maltings will be a catalyst for regeneration, creativity, and community pride.”
The original Maltings theatre was designed by architects Law & Dunbar‑Nasmith. It occupies the ruins of an early‑19th‑century maltings, which had been destroyed by fire in 1984.
The venue opened in April 1990, following a public campaign to establish a permanent professional arts centre in Berwick. It subsequently received a RIBA Regional Award in 1991.
Materials proposed for the MICA-designed redevelopment include locally sourced Doddington stone, with a stepped roofline intended to integrate with the surrounding townscape. The project also adopts a fabric-first approach to sustainability, with high insulation levels, airtight construction and a planned transition to full electrification. The venue is targeting 90 per cent clean energy use within the next decade and 99 per cent in the longer term.
Accessibility upgrades form a core part of the plans, with circulation routes, step-free connections and light-filled interiors designed to make the venue more inclusive for a range of users.
Part-funded by the government’s Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and Northumberland County Council, the project is intended to support the town’s wider cultural regeneration.
The project team includes theatre consultants Charcoalblue and engineers HRW and Max Fordham.
Construction planning and procurement will now begin ahead of work starting on site.
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