Early plans for Hornsey Town Hall restoration unveiled

Architects hoping to transform the historic Hornsey town hall into a theatre school have presented their plans to the community for the first time.

Mountview Academy theatre of Arts is hoping to raise �19million to bring the iconic Grade II listed building which stands in the centre of Crouch End Broadway.

The art deco building was featured in the recent acclaimed television series The Hour, but has been closed of to the public for many years.

Under the plans the building, which was built in 1935 and was the first public building to be constructed in the modernist style, will be restored to its former glory with the theatre and former mayor’s parlour renovated and brought back into use.

It will also include a new heritage centre, caf� and public courtyard, while its iconic fountain will be brought back into use.

There are also plans for a building to be built between the town hall and Hornsey library to house new studios, although no plans have yet been drawn up for its design.

The mammoth restoration project is expected to cost �19m, nearly half of which is hoped to be raised through the sale of land at the back of the site for housing, leaving Mountview with around �10m to fundraise.

The plans represent a significant shift from initial proposals for the Hornsey Town Hall Creative Trust (HTHCT) to take over the entire building and transform it into a public arts centre including a two-screen art house cinema.

Trust representatives said the plan was became unfeasible because of the ongoing economic turbulence.

Sue Robertson, Mountview principal, stressed the plans were a work in process, but said: “Our vision is that we will be a unique model of a drama school which works with professionals and our community.

“All the architecture will be returned to its original state.”