Backers of listed cinema to bid for lottery money
THE group behind plans to restore a classic Art Deco cinema in Birmingham is in talks with the Heritage Lottery Fund to help finance the scheme.
The Post last week revealed the council’s conservation advisory panel backed plans to restore Harborne’s 1930s Royalty as a cinema – a strong indication that Heritage England and the city council planners will look also look favourably on a formal application.
The Royalty Harborne Trust has already joined forces with a commercial operator on the scheme and drawn up plans showing how three auditoriums could be created and the spaces used to screen movie blockbusters, stage productions or host events.
Rob Sutton, chairman of the Trust, said the positive reaction from the city’s conservation panel was a ‘major milestone’ for the project.
He said: “We’ve had informal conversations with the owners. Now the plan has a positive reception we can talk to them in more detail and perhaps come to an accommodation. They value the building as well even if they had a different idea for its use.
“The Art Deco detailing is still there, it’s in a prominent location and can regenerate that part of the High Street.”
Developer True Pearl had earlier this year outlined plans to partially demolish the derelict cinema and build flats – but this was condemned by the panel and is unlikely to win planning permission.
Mr Sutton previously led the successful campaign to preserve the historic Moor Pool estate nearby and has high hopes of a similar outcome this time.
He added: “We are working with a commercial partner who we cannot name at the moment. We hope to bring back cinema screenings.
“We are also talking to the Heritage Lottery Fund. We are confident they will recognise the worth of this building and its fine Art Deco features. “But there is still a long way to go.” The Royalty operated as a cinema until 1963 when it was converted into a bingo hall but the building has been empty since 2012.
It was Grade II listed by Historic England in 2011.
The conversion would see two small cinema ‘pods’ built under the main balcony turning the 1,500-seat room into three.