Plans for an empty retail unit to be transformed into Lichfield’s new cinema have been approved.
The redevelopment of the former Debenhams building int the Three Spires shopping centre was given the green light by Lichfield District Council’s planning committee.
It will also see the demolition of neighbouring retail units to create public realm improvements and a link through to the wider redevelopment plans on the Birmingham Road site.
The cinema will feature four screens, with a number of food and beverage units created as part of the project.
Cllr Rosie Harvey-Coggins, Labour representative for St John’s, said:
“Lichfield does have a rich history of cinema use from The Regal and the arts centre, so it would be great to have a cinema again.
“I hope we do have some improvements in the bus service so people can use it.”
Cllr Rosie Harvey-Coggins, Lichfield District Council
There had been concerns raised about the project by Lichfield Civic Society given the forthcoming demolition of the neighbouring multi-storey car park.
But Cllr David Salter, Conservative representative for Shenstone, said there was alternative provision available.
“We do have our own car park which is now open to the public.
“The building itself is also across the road from the train station which brings the public transport element and the access through [as part of the demolition of neighbouring retail units] is close to the proposed bus station.
“The building isn’t going to be just a cinema of course. It will also include food and beverage units which brings more prosperity to the area.”
Cllr David Salter, Lichfield District Council
The application was unanimously approved at a meeting last night (24th January).
The planning committee chair, Cllr Thomas Marshall, said he looked forward to the return of cinema to Lichfield.
“I am one of the few in this meeting who can remember The Regal Cinema – I have fond recollections of watching Cliff Richard in Summer Holiday there!”
Cllr Thomas Marshall, Lichfield District Council
Cllr Andrew Rushton, Liberal Democrat representative for Whittington and Streethay, said it was a positive development for the city.
“The Debenhams building has not been in use for several years now – it’s always good to see buildings brought back into use.”
Cllr Andrew Rushton, Lichfield District Council
The story of cinema in Lichfield
While the new development may have put the idea of a city cinema back in focus, the history of cinema in Lichfield is nothing new.
Click below to see how the story of Lichfield’s latest big screen plans has evolved from the early days of movies in the city.
Excellent news! Hopefully they get on with this quickly.
Bad luck Lichfield Civic Society. This was probably signed up before your concerns were raised. The signatures on it have long dried I would imagine!!. A useful multistory car park being demolished to help make way for this. Another white elephant like the debacle that greets you as you come out of the train station.
There is a reason why the owners of the shopping centre need LDC to get involved… It is a risk that they as seasoned investors are not willing to take.
I hope I am proved wrong, but I foresee the Council Tax payers of Lichfield footing an ongoing bill.
Further I think the point about cinemas elsewhere having access to free parking shouldn’t be lost on anyone.
Happy days. Absolutely delighted.,
If you take the long term view of the way technology is going it is likely that few (if any) films will be produced for cinema use. Many already are made for online screening only. There are many examples like phone boxes, ticket offices, holiday booking, banks and postal services which have had to adapt to the new reality.
Such heavy investment in this project is unlikely to show a real profit for many years. While it is probable the novelty factor will get it off to a good start I doubt that will be sustainable.
I hope the council have given it due diligence. Personally I suspect it will have a shorter lifespan than any erstwhile cinema on the timeline.
Incidentally, well done LL for the informative content of your timelines research !
A cinema near a high street, surrounded by residential areas, opposite a train station and bus station needs a multi storey car park like a fish needs a bicycle.
Jim please tell me how for example anyone living in Wall can use a bus,last one 5 ISH non Saturday afternoon and non on Sundays. Now trains no station nearest is Lichfield city.
@Cllr Andrew Rushton: But is it good to see well used buildings demolished for no good reason, i.e. the multi-storey car park (except as a sweetener to developers)? @Cllr David Salter: Your car park is not a permanent solution (it’s going to be built over) and in any case has nothing like the capacity of the multi-storey. @Cllr Rosie Harvey-Coggins: You are not going to see improvements in the bus service unless you do something about it. And getting rid of the current perfectly good bus station in favour of a postage stamp sized space on the other side of the road is not what I mean. All these councillors seem clueless about what they doing.
Mike, I’m assuming you have a car if you’ve chosen to live in Wall? In which case you can drive and park in one of the many car parks that are now allegedly almost empty since the parking charges were increased a little bit…
Really pleased the theatre is finally coming to fruition.
All that is needed now is a decent relatively late night bus service.
Within Lichfield District and also from Walsall to Burntwood and then onwards to Lichfield.
If this were to materialise then it will massively benefit the new Cinema and also the Garrick Theatre.
Come on Lichfield District Council/Staffordshire County Council make this work
Mike, I’m slightly perplexed at why your solution to ‘public transport needs improving’ is ‘a multi storey car park’ rather than ‘improve public transport’.
Great news! I hope they announce the cinema owner soon… it needs to be one of the “boutique” brands for it to offer something that other towns with mainstream cinemas already offer.
A white elephant amenity for the few paid for by the many.
Excellent news! Hopefully a suitably boutique operator like Everyman will take this on.
Anyone who thinks cinemas are dead should pay a visit to an upmarket cinema like Odeon Luxe in Tamworth or Everyman in Birmingham, which are consistently full, despite high ticket prices (and guess what? Parking isn’t always free even in Tamworth!)
Get the product right and people will come. The spaghetti & chips brigade can enjoy their microwave tv dinner at home there while the rest of us make the most of these luxury cinema experiences.
Today seems appropriate to quote Robert Burns.
The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!
We need to get more people back into City centres so this will hopefully help with that. But the council have removed free parking in the evening, so that’s not going to help this project or the bars and restaurants in Lichfield that are already struggling.
Is the council going to insist that the circular bus will run later so people can use public transport to get home saves taking their cars
Well all those that are praising for this cinema, I hope you use for it if it becomes to be and an operator actually steps forward with a commitment. Non of the cinema chains though are jumping with profits, non are expaning with huge plans as people choose to watch in comfort an security at their homes.
Reason we havn’t seen any operators step forward is because non are willing to bite at this offer, location and neighbors such as Tamworth with Odeon, only few minutes on the train away. Yet you voted Tory youve got this mess for many more years, oh and millions in debt coming too.
Great news – exactly what is needed. Will bring more footfall to the centre as well. I am just hoping that the food and beverage units are well thought out and good quality and not just McDonalds etc. From the pictures, the rooftop bar would be a real coup for Lichfield and give great views over towards the Cathedral. Superb news
Stevo I can drive at the moment but for how much longer,I could name several people who live here but can’t drive. It comes to us all unless the grim reaper beats us
Usual rubbish from the council. And to mention the arts centre as a shining light is another disgrace, the council were responsible for pulling that down whilst knowing it would impact terribly on the arts scene in Lichfield. Ps how’s the kennings site looking?
Birmingham, ( Boutique Cinema.) Seat Cost.
2 ‘£17,50 each … 2 Pizza £12.50 . 2 Cokes £ 4..50 total
£69 for 2 and half hours.
Comfortable but Service to table rushed and we missed about opening 10 minutes of Film. grossly overpriced for Frozen Pizza and Cardboard Cup Coke.
It is advertised as a Film experience ..
An experience we will not be repeating.
It has been intimated that Our New Cinema will be Boutique ??
Do hope this is not an example of what we can expect.
A couple of points from me:
– Cinema traffic is generally busiest in the evenings, so will be less of a problem in regards to parking.
– what is worse, a new cinema or an huge empty retail space that no business is interested in filling.
It’s about time Lichfield was modernised.
Lichfield very much needs some thing to attract people to the city other than pubs having lived here for 23 years I suspect it will cost a fortune and not offer value for money for the cinema to be successful it needs an IMAX screen our idiotic councillors probably haven’t put as much though into this project as they should, or am I just being cynical
Lichfield needs this. The old people here have stagnated any growth and contributed nothing. Younger generations will never have it like they have and something like this offers alittle back to them and not the ‘takers’ generation. There’s a reason this city is stuck in the mud and its down to the average age being about 90.
@Alan, you’ve obviously discovered the secret of eternal youth- care to share??
@Alan I think most people would welcome a cinema but the argument is whether this is the best use of your council tax when so many other more urgent demands are being made on funds. And what is your beef with the older residents? All those retired people who volunteer at foodbanks and charities and events around the district; who provide unpaid childcare for their families; who contribute through the council tax towards paying for the cinema; who contribute to the economy of Lichfield by shopping here, visiting its cafes and its theatre. Are we really such a waste of space? Where would you like to be shipped off to when you get old? Rwanda?
The average age of Lichfield age is 46. This area has a higher average age than the West Midlands (40 years) and a higher average age than England (40 years).
46! Yes that’s awful and certainly has bad consequences.