Forum Topic

EALING CINEMA WHEN WILL BUILDING START!!!

Could anyone help me i was just wondering if anyone had any information about the cinema, its been derelict for so long and it would be lovely to have a cinema in ealing any information would be much appreciated.

Oliver Zago ● 4303d8 Comments

the rebuilding of the cinema is a perfect case study of how the Labour group have really run the council - for all the huffing and puffing of Julian Bell, the CPO hasn't happened, the site remains derelict and a key night time destination in Ealing is still missing.

Chris Martin ● 4298d

I think that no-one really knows. I think that the timing of this has got nothing to do with cinemas and is being purely driven by property speculation. The land goes up in value each year in this property bubble without anything on it!The only solution to this would be to set up a non-profit organisation or company  to enact this project. While this would probably be much less efficient, at least the property speculators would not benefit.

Peter Mcleod ● 4298d

Thank you for your reply's lets hope we get some news soon.

Oliver Zago ● 4298d

Phil - I spoke to a councillor to get an update on this and the CPO was raised after outline planning permission was granted. The owner has not accepted it though and so negotiations have been going on. If the new developer can do a deal to acquire the site directly then that will speed things up but if a deal cannot be done then the CPO will have to be taken to court. The process is dragging on but the receiver is presumably in no hurry and feels that delaying tactics will get them a better deal. This was a few weeks ago so they may be closer to a deal now. Alan's post below has some information on the plans for the new development. Only outline permission has been granted so far so a lot more details will need to be sorted out.

Paul Conlan ● 4301d

There is/was a rumour that Land Securities are/were near to making a deal with Allsops, the receivers who took over control of the old Ealing Cinema site. If that's the case then the deal would probably be complete once the full planning application has been submitted and/or passed.The plans that I saw involved building over 160 apartments (very few, if any, of which would be affordable). These flats would be built around the perimeter of the site INCLUDING where the old cinema used to be PLUS Walpole House on Bond Street AND Flava's on Mattock Lane. There would also be around 13 or so cafés, bars and/or restaurants.Ealing Council bought the old YMCA in Bond Street in 2011 for £1.9 million with the intention of integrating the space into any new scheme. It now looks like this historic building will be knocked down to make an additional entrance into the central part of the site where the new cinema will be located. The number of screens is not known but may be between 4-8 (including an outdoor screen area).Everything should become clearer in the next few months. I'm guessing work will finally start in 2016 and the cinema will open in 2018.

Alan Outten ● 4302d

Paul - you say "... the council is proceeding with a CPO to acquire the site from the current owner".Do you know whether this really is the case now or have you based this comment on previous reports from the council?

Phil Kay ● 4302d

I agree Oliver, its taken an unconscionably long and weary time to sort out this cinema problem. The defunct building site that was once our flagship borough cinema is right in the heart of Ealing - come on Ealing Council, lets be having you for goodness sake. Please sort it out - this isn't a 'third world' country.

Gerry Tan ● 4303d

A company called Land Securities wish to redevelop the site with a new cinema, restaurants and housing.Some more details are on their website here: http://www.ealingfilmworks.com/The outline planning permission was granted in December. Meanwhile the council is proceeding with a CPO to acquire the site from the current owner. If all goes well the new cinema could finally be open in late 2017. The site has been derelict since 2008 and Ealing has been without a cinema for far too long.

Paul Conlan ● 4303d