THE leader of Lichfield District Council says a new cinema is expected to open next year.
Work is currently taking place on the former Debenhams unit at the Three Spires Shopping Centre as part of proposals for it to be transformed into a four-screen facility operated by Everyman.
But delays to the project have drawn criticism from Lichfield MP Dave Robertson, who wrote to Lichfield District Council leader Cllr Doug Pullen over the issue.
He said:
"The site remains a prominent reminder of a project that has fallen significantly behind schedule, despite earlier commitments from Lichfield District Council that it would be open and operating by spring."
Cllr Pullen said the project had been delayed from initial projections of an opening of April this year.
But he said "multiple factors" had been behind the timeline slipping from his original estimate.
The Conservative council leader said:
"I appreciate that many residents will be disappointed the project has taken longer than originally anticipated.
"In November 2025, I said we expected the cinema to open in April 2026 – a date that has clearly been missed.
"The joint venture [between the council and Evolve Estates] took the decision earlier this year to replace the previous main contractor after it became clear they were not delivering to the standard and speed the project required.
"Since then, progress on site has improved significantly. I met with the project team last week and was pleased to see the pace of work now being achieved.
"Based on the latest programme, construction remains on track to complete in December 2026.
"Although it may not always be obvious from outside the building, a huge amount of work has taken place.
"The former Debenhams building has required extensive structural alterations to transform it into a modern multi- screen cinema. We always knew this would be a complex project, but the scale of the work has proved even greater than originally anticipated.
"I should also be clear that multiple factors, including additional structural work, has had a cost impact on the scheme. Much of the detail is commercially sensitive, given the ongoing contractual and joint venture position, but the overall level of investment in the cinema will of course be published in full.
"Everyman and the other tenants will carry out their own fit-out, which is expected to take around three months, with the cinema currently expected to open in spring 2027."
Cllr Pullen said that he remained convinced that spending on the cinema development would result in a positive outcome for local taxpayers.
"Despite the delays, I remain confident this is the right investment for Lichfield.
"The cinema will strengthen both the daytime and evening economy, attract more visitors, support local businesses and create an income-generating asset for the district.
"After meeting the costs of operating and maintaining the building, it is expected to deliver a net return of more than £200,000 every year for local taxpayers.
"This is just one of a number of interventions being delivered by a Conservative council to support our local economy at a time when town and city centres face significant challenges, particularly in the hospitality sector.
"We can't control the national picture, but we can continue investing in Lichfield, backing local businesses and ensuring our city centre remains vibrant and successful."
