New cinema finally on its way to King Street after town hall plans approved
Finally! A cinema is returning to King Street. …
The new four-screen cinema is part of larger plans to build new affordable homes, offices, shops and transform the historic Hammersmith Town Hall that were approved this week.
The cinema – likely to be run by Curzon – will see four new screens built on the site of the old Cineworld site. It’s directly outside our office Horton and Garton office in King Street so we promise to let you know when the silver screens are flickering again! We’re told construction work begins next year.
The council will kickstart the ambitious project by demolishing the ugly brutalist town hall extension. Which is a loss that will be mourned by few in Hammersmith – especially the council workers who work inside the crumbling building, we’re told. Demolition work is expected to start this summer.
The cherry on top of the scheme is the planned rooftop bar and restaurant to be perched on top of the town hall. Architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have designed a slick glass ‘crown’ to sit on top of the Grade II-listed building, which should offer incredible views of the Thames and the setting sun past Chiswick.
“The new four-screen cinema, new genuinely affordable homes, new public rooftop bar and restaurant and new public square are some of the factors that will rejuvenate the area and create a new Hammersmith neighbourhood,” said H&F Council’s Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan.
The scheme also includes:
-204 new homes, of which 52 per cent will be classified as genuinely affordable for local residents
-New community art and event spaces
-New affordable, flexible office spaces for start-up businesses
-New public space for performances and events in front of the restored town hall
-New homework spaces for children and students
-Inclusively designed buildings to ensure full access for disabled people
-Eco-friendly buildings to minimise our carbon footprint and cut fuel bills.
Most interesting is how the council has engaged with local disabled people and asked the architects to make it more accessible. This is believed to be the first major scheme of its kind in London to have involved disabled people in the design process from the beginning.
Mark Rintoul, Project Architect at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, said: “The council’s pioneering collaboration with multiple stakeholders and local amenity groups has defined this truly community-led development to deliver a civic campus with access for all.”
More developers should take note.
