A theatre threatened with demolition is now expected to be saved.
Following a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Cannock Chase Council said the Prince of Wales Theatre would instead undergo refurbishment.
The decision is subject to detailed design work, an operator being appointed, and a business case being reviewed before a final commitment is made, the authority said.
“Our residents and town centre shop owners told us they want a thriving theatre, so we are doing the right thing for our community,” said deputy leader Richard Craddock. “We could not have stood by and seen it razed to the ground – that would have ripped the cultural heart out of our district.”
The theatre has been closed since April 2025 to make way for wider regeneration plans in Cannock town centre.
A multi-storey car park and empty shopping centre have already been knocked down.
Craddock said they had “reached a critical juncture” for the town centre’s future and wanted to work with other political groups to explore what else could be achieved.
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