Listed status bid for historic city cinema
Heritage body considers move amid Electric bulldozer rumours
HISTORIC England is considering a bid to register Birmingham’s famous Electric cinema as a listed building after more than 15,000 people signed a petition to save the UK’s oldest working picture house.
The Electric, in Station Street, recently confirmed it was closing for the foreseeable future, sending shockwaves through the city.
The 115-year-old cinema only reopened in 2022 after it shut during the pandemic.
The announcement sparked outrage and upset across the city’s cultural scene with mayor Andy Street saying action was needed to save the historic cinema.
A petition, launched by the Flatpack Film Festival, was presented to Birmingham City Council last week.
Heritage group Historic England also confirmed it was considering applications to register the building as a site of historic interest.
A spokesperson for Historic England said: “We can confirm we have received a listing application for the Electric Cinema in Birmingham. We are currently considering the application.”
Listed buildings are subject to extra legal protections over changes that can be made.
Owners will need to apply for Listed Building Consent for most types of work that affect the ‘special architectural or historic interest’ of the structure. News of the Electric closing angered many in the city, with many taking to social media to voice their sadness.
Campaigners have also urged local leaders to find an alternative vision for the site, and have applied to have the cinema registered as an Asset of Community Value.
Rumours have been circulating online that Station Street is at risk of being bulldozed to make way for new flats.
Mr Street said: “Any potential loss of such an iconic heritage building is deeply concerning. We have asked WMCA to urgently investigate the facts and any possible interventions.
“We know this feeds into wider concerns about the future of Station Street, which is why we have already written to the government to ask for The Crown pub to become a listed building.
“Clearly, if we’re successful in that application then that has implications for any proposed development.
“But Station Street is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people’s grave concerns about the future of our arts and cultural scene.
“Culture is essential to the lifeblood of the West Midlands.
“That is why the news that Birmingham City Council will be cutting 100 per cent of their grants to cultural organisations is so concerning.”
Any potential loss of such an iconic heritage building is deeply concerning. Andy Street