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Councillors on our Planning and Regulatory Committee approved the planning application on Wednesday (14 May), which had been submitted in January by our appointed pre-construction contractor for the project, Morgan Sindall Construction.
The restoration work includes:
- repairing the main 1930s promenade building
- demolishing the existing 1980s internal building and replacing it with a brand-new structure to host indoor events for about 1,000 people
- increasing the total venue capacity to 5,000 people plus event staff, and
- installing sustainable and renewable energy sources, including heat pumps and solar panels, to improve energy efficiency and help tackle the climate emergency.
The Tropicana has seen several changes over the years since it opened in 1937.
This new phase will create new jobs, support local businesses and deliver a year-round experience-led economy for the future.
Construction work is due to start this summer and is set to be completed by next summer.
We’re also currently working on the procurement of an experienced operator who can run the venue for at least 20 years, due to be announced this summer.
The appointed venue operator would then complete their fit-out and reopen the Tropicana shortly after refurbishment and construction is completed.
The refurbishment has been made possible thanks to funding from the UK government.
This funding is provided specifically for this project and we can’t use it for any other purpose, such as adult social care, children’s services or highway maintenance.
See the approved plans on our website, using reference 24/P/2691/R3.