Plans for a 600-seat theatre have been unveiled as part of a multimillion pound regeneration of Harrow Arts Centre.

The plans set out provisions for a two screen cinema complex, rehearsal spaces, bar, restaurant, art gallery, and cafe alongside the new theatre.

The £17 million project aims to create a “centre of excellence for culture in north London” similar to the Southbank Centre.

Cultura London, the newly-formed trust tasked with saving the venue, is now in the process of taking control of the facility from Harrow Council.

The trust is leading a fundraising campaign to save the centre after the council said it was no longer able to afford the annual £500,000 subsidy to run the centre earlier this year, putting the future of the facility at risk.

The appeal has so far raised more than £40,000 towards the first phase of the redevelopment – the building of the cinema complex – with Harrow Council pledging a further £1 million one-off payment.

Revenue from the cinema will then be used to fund further stages of the project.

Harrow Arts Centre already has a 400-seat theatre but a lack of wings and a backstage area means the kind of production that could be held there is limited.  

According to Cultura London, the new 600-seat theatre would be suitable for more advanced performances such as musicals and ballets.