The restoration of a historic art-deco cinema in North London can finally be completed after changes to the original plan were agreed. The redevelopment of the site to provide dozens of new flats, alongside a four-screen cinema, had hit a snag after the previous builder ‘went broke’ before it was finished.
Initially granted planning permission by Harrow Council in 2022, the scheme was set to deliver 78 flats – nine of which would be affordable – as well as the cinema and a café. However, it was deemed to be ‘no longer feasible’ because of changes to the London Plan’s fire safety requirements.
The plan changes, which were approved at a meeting of the council’s planning committee on Wednesday, 24 July, means there will be four additional flats but a loss of all affordable housing units – because delivering them was deemed ‘unviable’ – as well as the café. The chair of the committee, Cllr Marilyn Ashton, said she ‘just wants it to be finished’.
The locally listed art-deco building at 77 Station Road sits within the Harrow and Wealdstone Opportunity Area. It opened as the Dominion Cinema in 1936 but was renamed the ABC in 1962. At that time, its art-deco exterior was covered with steel sheeting to cut down on maintenance costs. It became Safari Cinema in 1995 until its closure in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Plans were agreed in 2021 to demolish the auditorium for flats, whilst maintaining the cinema and restoring the building’s original façade – which is already well on its way to completion. As of last week, council planning officers said the 78 flats were ‘close to complete’ but had remained unfinished due to issues with the builder.
Speaking to the committee, Cllr Ashton said: “This is against a backdrop of the previous builder going broke. […] Rather than look at this as an intellectual pursuit or academic assessment, which has been done, it’s more to do with, pragmatically, you want to get this finished.”
She added: “Another bonus is we have firmed up the requirement for the cinema, it wasn’t that clear before. It’s very important that we get that because it’s a fantastic community asset. […] Obviously we are disappointed not to get the money for the affordable [units] but, from my perspective, I just want this to be finished. It’s looking fantastic.
“I am very grateful that someone did actually take this on because it could so easily have just been left derelict. One has to be very careful about this viability issue because it’s not straightforward at all. While some developers are doing well, many are struggling. […] I think this is highly reasonable.”
The four extra flats outlined in the amended scheme will mean a reduction of four two-bedroom and additional eight one-bedroom units. This will mean the 82 apartments will comprise three studios, 25 one-bedroom, 39 two-bedroom, nine three-bedroom, and six four-bedroom properties. When complete, the cinema will reopen under its original name – The Dominion.
The scheme was approved by four votes in favour to two against – Labour’s Cllr Nitin Parekh and Cllr Peymana Assad – with one abstention. On his decision to vote against, Cllr Parekh told the committee that he knew the reason but he ‘doesn’t want to explain it’.
Cllr Ashton responded to say she was ‘not comfortable’ with that response and pushed for a reason, which was not forthcoming. Cllr Parekh replied simply: “It is my right.”
