Forum Theatre To Undergo $100m Renovation

The long-projected redevelopment of Melbourne's historic Forum Theatre has come to fruition, with the 85-year-old venue winning planning approval for a $100 million interior and exterior overhaul after a lengthy back-and-forth with the city.

As the ABC notes, the overhaul plan, which was originally made public in December last year, faced opposition from the City Of Melbourne in May. Councillors expressing issues over the building's height, design, and heritage features — including the potentially damaging effect on Hosier Lane's prominent street art — but reworking of the planning permit (which included reducing the affected space on Hosier Lane by 13 metres) ensured compromise was reached and the upgrade will proceed.

"People shouldn't be concerned about any encroachment on street  art, because it will virtually all remain — 99 per cent of it will still be there as it is now," Planning Minister Matthew Guy said.

However, it is not just the Hosier Lane street art that was cause for contention — the proposed addition of a 32-storey boutique hotel as well as additional office and retail space at the building's rear sparked worries over the Forum's increased height and impact on the skyline. However, Mr Guy asserted that these concerns, too, were unnecessary.

"For those concerned about height, I say that this is an area that will not encroach over the Yarra River," he said. "It's a relatively small development in terms of height; it's a lot lower than buildings that surround it, and people shouldn't be concerned about the height of the building."

The owners of the Forum, the Marriner family — who are also the proprietors of the Princess and Regent theatres — say the development will help address the city's need for additional accommodation as well as the theatre itself's need for an overhaul.

"It's not too dissimilar to what I took on board 30 years ago with the Princess Theatre, and sort of 15 years ago with the Regent Theatre," he said. "There's a lot of work needed, and it's detailed work, and it's costly work."

Said costly work is set to get under way on the Forum site in early 2015, with a projected completion date pencilled in about two years later, in early 2017.