Pictured above: Back row, left to right - Mike Woollacott, ATI Projects Ltd for Warwick District Council; Bill Hunt, Deputy Chief Executive Warwick District Council; Phil Roberts, Partnerships Director Advantage West Midlands; Chris Elliott, Chief Executive Warwick District Council; Will Adams, City Spirit. Front row left to right: Gus MacDonald, Loft Theatre Company; Cllr Les Caborne; Michael Raynes, Loft Theatre Company; John Corstorphine, City Spirit; William Wilkinson, Loft Theatre Company; Cllr John Hammon (lead for Economic Development)

A multimillion pound development programme to support the growth of creative and digital industries, enterprise and innovation is to centre on the refurbishment of a Grade II listed church building in Warwickshire.

Improvements and an extension to the former United Reform Church at Spencer Yard in Leamington Spa's Old Town will provide a new state-of-the-art performance centre for the nationally renowned Loft Theatre Company while simultaneously starting the final - and largest single - development in the town's ongoing £14million Creative Uplift Programme (CUP).

The CUP is a public-private sector partnership between Warwick District Council, Regional Development Agency Advantage West Midlands, Coventry Warwickshire and Solihull Partnership, City Spirit Developments and ATI Projects Limited, private businesses and the Loft Theatre Company.

The programme is led by the Enterprise Team at Warwick District Council and aims to capitalise on the rapid growth of creative industries in Leamington Spa - home to more than 20 per cent of the UK's gaming industry, including two of the UK's largest gaming firms, and a high number of digital media graduates - by developing affordable office premises and creative workspaces with specialist business support services offered as part of the package.

Creative enterprise in Leamington has also received a boost through the development of three earlier projects which are now close to completion. These include the Brunswick Enterprise Zone (a £455,000 development including £396,000 from Advantage West Midlands), Court Street Creative Arches (a £2million development including £579,000 from Advantage West Midlands) and Althorpe Enterprise Hub (a £1million development fully funded by Advantage West Midlands).

Philip Roberts, Partnerships Director at Advantage West Midlands, said: "I am delighted Advantage West Midlands has been able to invest close to £7million in this activity and to be working with Warwick District Council and local businesses to bring new jobs and improve the quality of life of people in Leamington Spa by regenerating the Old Town.

"There is a fantastic opportunity here to build a powerful engine of creative enterprise, by encouraging new business start-ups in this Sector as well as supporting growing companies.

"Communities need thriving businesses at their hearts and Spencer Yard and the CUP programme will add invaluable enterprise space to the town while providing a welcome boost to the deprived Brunswick ward.

"This will contribute to Leamington's creative heritage and add to the town's appeal as a place to live and work, particularly for graduates.

"It's an exciting development that will support new innovative business, provide new flexible workspace, attract inward investment and introduce new technologies. The progress with the Spencer Yard could not come at a more important time."

Council Leader, Michael Doody (Con. Radford Semele) said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance Leamington's Cultural Quarter. Working with our development partners I am confident we can produce a high quality scheme bringing new life to this prime riverside site."

Michael Rayns, Chairman of the Loft Theatre Company, said: "The new theatre will give the Loft Theatre Company a new home and a more flexible theatrical space in which we can present work in different and exciting ways. In addition, the facilities and design of the new building will mean we can host work by other theatre companies and other forms of performance art such as choral and chamber music, opera, dance and film."

The redevelopment of the Loft theatre will be undertaken by developers City Spirit Developments Ltd. John Corstorphine, Director of City Spirit, said: "We are very enthusiastic about this exciting project and playing our part in the regeneration of this area. It is an innovative development both in terms of use and architecture with new ideas which will stimulate further activity in this area."