Watermans Arts Centre has welcomed the news that the Secretary of State has given permission for its current venue to be demolished and moved to Half Acre.

The centre, which has operated at the site for more than 35 years, said the move to land where the of the old police station stands waiting for demolition represents a "once in a generation opportunity" to deliver a "world class" arts centre.

A new development at the current Watermans site will be arranged over three blocks and will be six-seven storeys high with 33 car parking spaces.

Planning chiefs also approved the replacement of the Arts Centre plus 105 flats at the Police Station site – a decision upheld by the government.

The new centre will have a larger theatre, two cinemas with a large gallery to enable film festivals to be hosted as well as space for a café/restaurant.

The proposal was called in by the Secretary of State in April 2018 following objections from Historic England regarding the visual impact upon Kew Gardens of the development's height and massing.

A virtual inquiry was held in October 2020. In his letter of 31 March 2021, the Secretary of State has announced his decision to grant permission for the development on what has been called Albany Riverside.

In a statement reacting to the decision, Watermans said: "We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a step change in what we can offer: to create an inspiring artistic and social hub for West London, with Brentford at its beating heart.

"The proposals for Watermans' relocation are not simply about a new building but about the kind of arts and creative scene we want in this area for the future.

"The opportunity is to deliver a world-class arts centre that will put Brentford on the cultural map, ignite its economy and inspire its residents, as well as the visitors we attract from around West London.

"We have a vision for a venue that will simultaneously present an inspiring, high-quality artistic programme, and be Brentford's living room, a community hub underpinned by Watermans' continuing ethos of inclusivity, diversity, humanity and a welcome to all.

"But we don't simply want to transpose what we do in our current building into a new one. We want people to be inspired the moment they walk through our doors while feeling welcomed and at home.

"We want them to have an experience that they want to talk about. To do this the building must provide:

• A theatre suitable for world-class touring theatre, circus, live music and dance

• Two cinemas and a larger gallery to enable film festivals, live screenings and larger-scale exhibitions attracting top artists

• Social spaces for people to meet and relax, with fresh and exciting food and drink

"And finally, we want a Watermans that will be financially self-sufficient so that we can provide our services for many years to come, and continue to operate as a social enterprise meaning that every penny is put back into the community.

"Watermans welcomes this decision. Our Board is fully committed to developing a sustainable and exciting new arts centre that meets the community's needs and we will now continue to work with London Green and the Council with the aim of agreeing a deal which we believe can deliver this ambition for Brentford.

"We recognise that there are concerns in the community about Watermans moving to a new site, such as losing the river views and car park.

"But we must look to a sustainable future for Watermans that allows us to keep pace with changing audience expectations and to provide a truly world class arts centre for Brentford.

"We will now work closely together with London Green and Hounslow Council to realise that vision to ensure that Watermans can thrive for generations to come.

"In the meantime, Watermans is committed to building up its theatre programme through our Friday Nights Live programme, investing in our current building - for example refurbishing the cinema seating and toilets - and growing audiences across every part of our programme. "

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