Temporary Dartford theatre closing as Orchard repair work completes – new homes coming on site
Dartford’s temporary replacement for the Orchard theatre is set to close with performances returning to the permanent building later this year, allowing development to commence on site.
The Orchard theatre closed in 2023 after RAAC was discovered and repairs to concrete was undertaken.
Dartford Council then opened the temporary replacement, and having been a couple of times they did a great job. The 1,000-caapcity venue is set to host its last performance at the end of this coming week.
Now repairs are complete the temporary structure will be dismanted before long standing plans to development the site begin in earnest.
Work also includes renovating the former co-op and it looks a very good scheme, bringing new homes and custom for town centre businesses upon completion.
In total new shops units and 69 homes will be built.
The town took a battering when Bluewater opened and continual gridlock from the Dartford crossing doesn’t help, so the more people living in town the more likely it is that the centre remains viable in a tough environment.
As well as those benefits one of the town’s best buildings gets a renovation to boot. Win-win.
Performances at the Orchard theatre will resume late rthis year when pantomie season commences. Which also rmeinds me, I saw a panto there many moons ago as a kid. It was fantastic and the good news is many other kids will get to enjoy the same.
