The Henrician
expansion proposal
Spring 2026
Prince Henry's High School is formulating plans to expand the Henrician Theatre from a 312 seater venue to a 1000 seat conference/performance space - a project which is estimated will take 4 years to complete.
The school authorities have been in communication with Evesham Town Council, Wychavon District Council and Worcestershire County Council, as well as parents of children at the school and Nigel Huddleston MP, in an effort to ease the path of the planning application once it is submitted.
The residents of the area have not been consulted at all so far.
Residents of the area immediately surrounding the school are overwhelmingly against this proposal because it is the wrong proposal in the wrong place for the wrong reasons.
A petition against it and calling for a transparent planning process with consultation with local residents at its heart has been signed by nearly 300 residents of Greenhill.
This represents a huge percentage of the residents on Victoria Avenue, Cambria Road, Windsor Road, Princess Road, Sandringham Close, Balmoral Close and Greenavon Close.
Around 80 people then packed the meeting room at St. Ecgwin's Social Club on 12 March to find out more about the plans, voice concerns, share shocking stories about missed appointments and flights caused by the traffic problems created by activities at Prince Henry's School and the associated traffic.
The meeting then shared ways in which they can campaign against this expansion and in addition, draw attention to the existing problems caused by the expansion of the school over recent years.
These issues include:
- extreme traffic congestion at peak times leading to road blockages causing potentially life-threatening situations
- inaccessibility to residents' homes, by themselves and potentially by emergency services
- damage to the road surfaces on Victoria Road, in particular due to the weight of traffic
- excessive strain on the sewage system, particularly along Cambria Road as a result of the growth in numbers of people using the school site
- air pollution affecting residents from the excessive traffic and as it idles waiting for a gap to pass
- light pollution from the lights positioned around the school grounds and the car park
- irresponsible parking by members of the school community
Residents believe there is a strong case for an arts facility in the town, but in the right place for the right reasons.
Evesham's economy would benefit hugely from the development of a vibrant cultural offer, building on the town's history and its beautiful parks and public spaces.
Residents believe the case for a town centre arts centre over the expansion of the Henrician is infinitely stronger.