New Cinema For Chiswick Gets Go-Ahead

Council grants planning permission to Picturehouse

Picturehouse is forge ahead with its conversion of the Ballet Rambert into a five-screen cinema following the granting of planning permission last night (Jan 16). The cinema could be open for business in early 2015.

A Council planning committee meeting voted in favour of allowing a cinema facility with five screens, a bar and cafe. The refurbishment is expected to cost between £3m and £4m and the company says it will create twenty full-time jobs and fifty part time jobs.

A spokesperson for Picturehouse said: "We’re very pleased to announce that we’ve been granted planning permission at the Planning Committee Hearing. We’d like to thank all the residents who overwhelmingly supported the project and we can’t wait to get started on making a cinema.”

Hounslow planning officials had recommended granting approval, subject to certain conditions. Their report to councillors found that the development would not harm neighbour’s living conditions, would preserve the character of the area and would not harm the local road network or traffic safety. Read the full report here

The conditions for planning permission include a Section 106 Deed regarding securing contributions towards consultation on the expansion of neighbouring Controlled Parking Zones.

Some local residents have expressed concern about pressure on local parking spaces and about the hours of opening. Councillor John Todd opposed the suggested weekend closing times at the planning meeting. He said he felt that 00.45 closing time on Fridays and Saturdays was too late.

The company had originally proposed closing Sunday-Thurs at 11.30pm and 12.30 closure on Fri and Sat to allow for the films which started at 9pm to finish. However the group has now added an extra fifteen minutes to its closing times for cinema screens which are now as follows:

Cinema screens Sunday to Thursdays 08.00 - 23.45, Friday to Saturday 08.00 - 00.45

Bars and restaurant Sunday to Thursday 08.00 - 23.20, Friday to Saturday 08.00 - 23.50

Terrace All week 08.00 - 22.30

As the proposal is a change of use to an existing building rather than a full demolish and re-build, there is no proposal to create on-site parking. Picturehouse plan to provide cycle parking facilities for 22 bicycles on the Chiswick High Road. Provision is included for disabled driver access.

Picturehouse is owned by Cineworld which is one of Europe's biggest chains.

January 17, 2014