East London’s Genesis cinema demolition and rebuild plan to be decided
Plans to redevelop the site of Genesis cinema on Mile End Road look set to be decided this week with Tower Hamlets planning officers recommending refusal.
Councillors will decide on Thursday whether to agree with demolishing the existing five screen cinema building comprising 946 seats for a replacement four screen cinema with 447 seats and 291 student rooms.
Planning officers are opposed stating:
Whilst the site’s location near Queen Mary University London and strong transport links make it suitable in principle for student housing, the scheme fails to meet key policy requirements.
It lacks a nominations agreement, provides no affordable student accommodation, and raises concerns over quality and residential amenity.
The cinema’s reprovision is accepted in land-use terms, but at a reduced scale and capacity, and without guarantees that its independent, community-focused role would continue and be secured in the long term.
Accessibility would improve; however, the loss of heritage features and cultural identity is significant.
The current cinema dates from 1938 when ABC built the Empire with a design by cinema architect William Riddell Glen.
Before that it was a music hall then theatre.
After ABC it became the Coronet until closure in 1988. The Coronet name will be well known to many as cinemas lived on in Woolwich, Eltham and the Elaphant & Castle for more than a decade longer.
Eleven years after the closure of Stepney Coronet it reopened as the Genesis.
It’s known for hosting film festivals alongside a wide range of films from mainstream to obscure including classics at low prices. A place that is also now far more accessible to south east Londoners given it’s not too far from Whitechapel station on the Elizabeth line.
Whitechapel station is 14 minutes from Abbey Wood or 11 minutes from Woolwich.
Application
Plans for the site went in earlier this year – visible here – arousing much debate. The site’s owners stated it was needed to secure the long term future of the site given current challenges with streaming services and recent declines in cinema visits whilst opponents to the plan created a petition against.
Students housing on site has proven controversial given height and location within the Stepney Green Conservation Area.
The student block would contain 220 cycle spaces and a rooftop terrace with the tallest part reaching seven floors.
Designs have been drawn up in the knowledge that a near retail park just to the east may be redeveloped.
A decision should be made this week barring any deferral. Click here to view more at agenda item five.
