Listed building consent was given by the council on 19 October for the Windmillhill Street venue to be knocked down, The Glasgow Times reports. 

Since reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was found in 2023, the theatre has been closed.

As reported by Urban Realm, the council has said: “It is considered that the proposed demolition of Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre and redevelopment as car parking and landscaping, have been justified as an exceptional departure from the normal presumption in favour of retaining listed buildings against the relevant policies of NPF4, the LDP, Historic Environment Policy for Scotland, and HES’s Guidance Notes on Managing Change in the Historic Environment.

“The impacts upon the retained complex of listed buildings and their setting are considered acceptable.”

Demolition will cost between £3.2 million and £3.5m according to the council’s estimation, increasing to between £5.2m and £5.7m for the demolition, car park and landscaping works collectively.

Investigations into whether the Category B-listed building could instead be repaired and returned to use took place ahead of the decision. 

Across 95% of the roof structure, RAAC was found.

Damaged planks, exposed reinforcement and evidence of water ingress were also found during inspections. 

An earlier assessment forecasted that RAAC remediation would cost over £10m, ahead of additional work finding a retention cost of between £31.4m and £34.7m to make the building both safe and operational.

It was concluded by the council that the works were not economically viable, with their cost being over twofold its £14.7m contingency fund covering asset rationalisation and RAAC issues in five affected council properties.

The Concert Hall and Theatre will be removed while the neighbouring Motherwell Civic Centre will be maintained, under the greenlit redevelopment.