Housing set to replace historic former cinema

Plans are being advanced to build housing in place of a historic former cinema – despite an ongoing campaign to stop it being bulldozed.

Bristol City Council has launched a consultation on proposals for 30 new homes at the old Broadway Cinema site in Knowle West, ahead of submitting a planning application.

It wants to build a mix of two and three-bed house, as well as three and four-story apartment blocks.

On the ground floor of the blocks would be community or commercial space such as shops and cafes.

Filwood Library – currently a separate building on Filwood Broadway – could also be relocated to the bottom of one of the blocks.

There are plans to build 30 “affordable” new homes and some community and commercial space on the site of a former historic cinema. Photo by Bristol City Council

Work started in 2021 to pull down the dilapidated picture house, which is adjoined to a row of shops and flats.

The interior has been gutted and the exterior is to be dismantled “soon”.

The council says the demolition is “being managed carefully over the coming months, while solutions to ensure the structural safety of remaining buildings during the process continues.”

The old cinema, which was later a bingo hall, is being knocked down to make way for the development in Knowle West. Photo by Charlie Watts

But there are also calls for the derelict facility to be renovated and reopened as a performance venue.

The building, which opened in 1938 and was later a bingo hall, has been closed since the early nineties.

The council says the current library on Filwood Broadway could also be replaced with homes if it is relocated to the old cinema site. Photo by Charlie Watts

Nick Haskins, chair of the Filwood Residents Association, is leading the fight to save the old cinema.

“I’m prepared to go in that building and sit there and squat until somebody sees a bit of sense,” he told Bristol24/7 in December.

“The infrastructure in Knowle West needs to be sorted and it needs to be sorted now.

“They’re [the council] taking everything away and giving nothing back.”

The council’s plans for the dilapidated picture house come despite a campaign to stop it being pulled down. Photo by Nick Haskins

Mayor Marvin Rees commented: “We recognise the scale of development taking place in the area and the concerns of residents regarding the cinema and other local facilities.

“New proposals for a housing development would deliver much needed affordable homes, while also making sure these properties are more energy efficient and contribute to our response to the climate emergency.

“This is an exciting time for Knowle West, and we want the local community to be a big part of shaping the plans for improvements to the area.”

There are also plans for 29 homes on the old swimming pool site on Filwood Broadway, which would see the removal of a ball court.

The plans would give a new lease of life to the old cinema site – but some would like to see a supermarket built there instead. Photo by Bristol City Council

In the Knowle West Regeneration Framework and Bristol Local Plan, the old cinema site is earmarked for a new supermarket.

The council has since said that it has not found a retailer interested in opening a store on Filwood Broadway.

But it has recently launched a new study to market test retail interest for the street, reigniting hopes that Knowle West might finally get a supermarket.

The high street is also receiving a share of £4.7m in funding to help its regeneration and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council’s consultation on its proposals for the old cinema site is open until February 4: www.bristol.gov.uk/filwoodbroadwayconsultation.

Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a pilot project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media

Main photo by Charlie Watts

Read more: Last-ditch attempt to save old cinema from demolition

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