A £10.8 million contract to refurbish a theatre has been awarded, with work expected to start in the New Year.

The Brook Theatre in Chatham closed in April 2023 for refurbishment, the contract for which was agreed at a Medway Council cabinet meeting on November 19.

Thomas Sinden Ltd - a Romford-based construction company - successfully bid to take on the job of updating the building to modern standards, improving heating systems and making them more environmentally friendly.

The refurbishment will also involve making it more accessible for people with mobility issues and opening up more space.

The council believes The Brook has suffered from a lack of maintenance over the years. The investment will address this which means it can be used long into the future.

It says the refurbishment will begin in the New Year and a reopening date will be announced sometime in early 2025.

The project has been funded through various grants, including £300,000 from the Future High Street Fund Grant and £6.5m from the Levelling Up Fund, and the authority has put £100,000 of its day-to-day spending budget in.

Additionally, Medway Council agreed to borrow £14.7m to be paid back over 40 years in July 2023 bringing the total available for The Brook to £21.6m.

The contract agreed is for £10.8m but the authority says it will keep all the funds reserved until work is completed in case complications arise with the Grade-II listed building.

Cllr Zoe Van Dyke (Lab) introduced the report at a cabinet meeting, saying the refurbishment would reopen the space for performances, rehearsals, workshops, and business and community meeting spaces.

She added the makeover was expected to bring benefits to Medway’s nighttime economy, provide employment opportunities and space for businesses to develop.

Cllr Harinder Mahil (Lab), formerly portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure, now for economic and social regeneration and inward investment, said refurbishing The Brook was an important project for the regeneration of Chatham.

He said: “When we were facing serious financial pressures, others have asked could we have paused this project, could we have left it, but not moving on would’ve meant losing the funds we’ve been awarded.

“And it’s important to recognise The Brook in the context of what’s going on in Chatham. With The Paddock, for example, it becomes that much more important to focus on the improvement of this area.”

Council leader Vince Maple (Lab) concurred, saying: “This is a lot of capital money, there’s no doubt about that, but this is investment into a critical part of our heritage offer, our cultural offer, and our economic offer.”

In 2016, the theatre received a facelift with improvements to its exterior.

The council’s report says the refurb will fuel a “renaissance” of Chatham’s daytime and evening economy with clubs, classes, and professional programmes, encouraging residents and visitors to spend more time in the centre and support local businesses.

The Brook has two performance spaces, one 400-seater and another 100-seater, multiple dance and theatre rehearsal rooms, workshops for building and making sets, and several serviced offices and meeting spaces.

Now the contract has been approved, work is expected to begin in the New Year and a completion date announced shortly afterwards.