New planning rules to protect theatres, concert halls and live music performance venues from being demolished or redeveloped will come into effect next week.

Under the measures, councils will now need to take the temporary impact of coronavirus into account when considering permission for change of use, redevelopment or demolition of cultural venues.

Jon Morgan, director of the Theatres Trust, said: ‘We welcome the news of revisions to the planning system, which reinforce and increase protections for our treasured theatres and provide reassurance for the communities that use and value them.

’The COVID-19 lockdown has rendered otherwise vibrant theatres vulnerable to permanent closure and we have already seen a number of theatres fall vacant due to the operator going into liquidation.’