The Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet, closed since 2011, will not be converted into homes after a six-year planning battle ended in defeat for the developer. The Planning Inspector upheld Somerset Council's August 2025 rejection of Mr K. Newton's application to turn the building into seven flats with a ground-floor retail unit.
Inspector's Decision
Planning inspector Verity Simpson conducted a site visit on May 12 and published her decision on the Planning Inspectorate's website. She noted that part of the theatre, including the main auditorium and stage, currently operates as a commercial gym, though an application to formalise this was recently refused.
Ms Simpson stated: "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."
Community Campaign
The 'Buy the Amulet' group has raised around £128,000 through a community share offer to purchase the building, similar to the Mayday Saxonvale initiative in Frome. A charitable community benefit society has been established, and potential grant funding identified.
Ms Simpson added: "I cannot establish that there is not a financially viable demand for its use as a community facility." She also highlighted that redevelopment could harm the town's conservation area, noting the "collective and individual significance" of nearby listed buildings.
Design Concerns
The inspector criticised the proposed two-storey extension facing the historic Market Place, calling it "incongruous" with the Amulet's brutalist design. She said: "This highly glazed addition would be incongruous with the distinctive yet simple exterior detailing more typically found on the Amulet building... its scale and forward projection... would be a visually prominent and incongruous addition within the Market Place."
She concluded: "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."
Campaigner Reaction
A spokesperson for the 'Buy the Amulet' 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."
The spokesperson added: "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."
