Ex-Empire Cinema

posted in: Planning | 0
Empire Cinema
Photo: ©Kevin R Boyd

The former Empire Cinema site remains cleared except for the facade with its supporting scaffolding and an unsightly pile of rubble at the rear. There has been some movement on the future of this site. It seems as if the recession has taken its toll on the original plans of Empire Cinemas (owned by an Irish cinema chain) and work was stopped in its tracks following demolition of all but the façade in early 2009. The Council, to its credit, has served a ‘completion notice’ on Empire Cinemas but it is not clear whether this will force their hand. In any case the notice is just the start of what could be a lengthy legal process. Ultimately the Council could buy the site by compulsory purchase if Empire Cinemas do not proceed but it is not clear where the money would come from. There are unconfirmed rumours that Empire are trying to sell the site to another operator. We would support this if it enabled the proposed cinema development to go ahead.