Plans for Bristol cinema to become flats set for refusal

Developers have faced strong opposition against plans to turn the former art-deco cinema in Redfield into flats

Plans to convert an historic cinema building into flats are set to be refused, due to a lack of parking.

Developers Landrose want to turn the art-deco building St George's Hall, in Redfield, Bristol, into apartments, with a bar, café and small cinema.

Campaigners from Save Redfield Cinema are fighting against the plans, which include 13 shared "co-living" flats.

Bristol City councillors have been recommended to refuse permission when they hold a vote on 10 April.

In a report, planning officers said: "The site is located in an area that experiences severe pressure for on-street parking, with a significant proportion of the high number of public objections received raising this as a concern.

"Despite the provision of two separate parking surveys, evidence has not been provided to satisfactorily alleviate these concerns."

The 130-seater cinema at St George's Hall is mostly still intact

The developers say they would attempt to stop any future residents from owning a car, to avoid adding to parking pressures on nearby streets.

Council planning officers said this would neither be "reasonable or enforceable", and parking pressures would increase.

Campaigners want to see the St George's Hall, in Church Road, which was also previously a pub, brought back into use as a community cinema, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The idea to reopen the building as a cinema has received widespread support, including Bristol actor Stephen Merchant.

The Bristol actor Stephen Merchant has supported the reopening of St George's Hall as a cinema

Dave Taylor-Matthews, from the Save Redfield Cinema campaign, said: "We want to see the history and community value recognised.

"We're working with other developers who share a better vision for the whole community, and who are happy to work with us to deliver an exciting project for the people of east Bristol."

Their planned cinema would have eight times the capacity than Landrose's proposed cinema, and would be run by a community interest community.

A separate property developer would still build some housing on the site, to help fund the project.

It is unclear what would happen next, if the committee refuses permission.

As the building is protected as an asset of community value, this gives the community the option to buy it if it comes up for sale.