Howden Park Centre is a well-established arts, culture, theatre, wedding, conference, meeting and party venue that is situated in an idylic setting in the heart of Livingston, West Lothian's largest town.
This modern, purpose-built facility (refurbished in 2009) offers a 300-seat auditorium with fully equipped theatre facilities, gallery and exhibition spaces, a full commercial kitchen and licenced bar serving a bistro area and outdoor terrace, multiple general purposes areas providing modern, flexible spaces for private hire, community workshops, office accommodation and breakout areas along with an abundance of free car parking for customers and staff.
Howden Park Centre is also the base for the staff and members of Firefly Arts, who provide youth theatre and associated services for children and young people aged 5 to 25.
Location
Howden Park Centre is centrally located in the heart of Livingston, West Lothian's largest town.
With easy access to Junction 3 of the M8 and the arterial railway stations at Livingston North and Livingston South, Howden Park Centre is readily accessible and has excellent connectivity to Edinburgh, Glasgow and the wider central belt.
Within Livingston, the facility is located within a wooded setting and benefits from proximity to and views towards the green open spaces of Howden Park.
Accommodation
300-seat auditorium with fully equipped theatre facilities
Gallery and exhibition spaces
Full commercial kitchen and licenced bar serving a bistro area and outdoor terrace
Multiple general purposes areas providing modern, flexible spaces for private hire
Community workshops and art studios
Office accommodation and breakout areas
An abundance of free car parking for customers and staff
Terms
Lease Terms
The property is being offered for lease in the following terms:
1. The closing date for offers is 12 noon on Thursday 16 November 2023.
2. The period of lease shall run from 1 April 2024 to 17 February 2035.
3. The property shall be let on a Full Repairing and Insuring (FRI) commercial basis, with the tenant being responsible for repairing and maintaining obligations and occupational costs.
4. The council is seeking a commercial annual rent for the property and interested parties are invited to submit their best bids on that basis.
5. The lease will provide for rent reviews at the fifth anniversary of the date of entry and every five years thereafter.
6. The tenant shall be responsible for the payment of any non-domestic rates attributable to the property throughout the duration of the lease.
7. Howden Park Centre is the base for Firefly Arts, who provide youth theatre and associated services for children and young people aged 5 to 25 from the premises. The lease of Howden Park Centre to the new operator will be an interposed lease that takes account of and accommodates the council's existing lease commitments to Firefly Arts.
Operating agreement
The council is legally bound by the terms of a funding agreement that relates to funding provided to the council by Creative Scotland when Howden Park Centre was refurbished in 2009. Under that funding agreement, the council must ensure that Howden Park Centre continues to operate for specific purposes. The successful bidder will therefore be required to enter into an operating agreement with the council, the key components of which will be as follows:
1. The venue must, for the duration of the lease period, be used as a theatre and arts venue.
2. The artist's studio and gallery spaces in the venue must continue to be provided for that purpose.
3. Access to Howden Park Centre for the public must be maintained during regular operating hours.
4. Partnerships with key stakeholders / organisations must continue to be developed.
5. The venue must not be renamed.
6. No significant changes to the venue or its operation should be made without the prior written consent of council.
7. It is not anticipated that any revenue or capital resources will be provided by the council in relation to the operating agreement.
8. Operations shall commence and continue on 1 April 2024 without any period of venue closure or cessation of or interruption to the services, activities and productions delivered from the venue.