Ideas for the future of Alexandra Palace has been welcomed by residents

Public shows ‘overwhelming’ support for Ally Pally regeneration plans

by Flora Drury Thursday, August 2, 2012
3:00 PM

Alexandra Palace has taken its first step towards becoming a major international hub for culture, community events, learning and recreation after regeneration plans were overwhelming supported by the public.

How people prioritised Ally Pally upgrade

1. Upgrading the main event Halls

2. Opening up the Victorian Theatre

3. Opening up the old BBC Studios

4. Opening up the basement

5. Building a hotel in the Palace.

More than 2,000 people responded to Alexandra Park & Palace Charitable Trust’s survey, which asked them for their thoughts on plans and design concepts for the Victorian entertainment venue.

Those who took part in the six-week public consultation ranked upgrading the event halls the most important, with improving first impressions being another priority.

Matt Cooke, Alexandra Park & Palace Charitable Trust chairman, thanked everyone for taking part and “wholeheartedly supporting our plans”. He added: “A really thriving Palace is a wonderful prospect, and one which will benefit all Londoners by breathing new life into one of the capital’s most iconic buildings and locally by creating jobs and boosting the local economy.”

The next step - together with much needed repairs to the building beginning in the autumn- with the help of funding from English Heritage - will be to secure financial support by approaching a number of sources, including public, private and lottery funders.