Government approves compulsory purchase order to allow the development of Ealing’s new cultural quarter by Land Securities

Proposed new Ealing cinema complex

Proposed new Ealing cinema complex

A £100m Filmworks cinema scheme in Ealing’s new cultural quarter is set to go ahead after being granted a compulsory purchase order (CPO) by the government.

The development by Land Securities will include an eight-screen, 1000-seat cinema to be operated by Picturehouse Cinemas, restaurants, shops and homes.

The compulsory purchase order area includes the site of the former Empire Cinema which closed in 2008, a neighbouring office building, bar and other properties on the boundary of the site.

Land Securities development director Jonathan Levy, said the secretary of state’s decision to comfirm the CPO was “crucial in allowing us to deliver a comprehensive film quarter that connects Walpole Park with Bond Street and Ealing Broadway, creating a new public square, new shops, restaurants, homes and new jobs in Ealing town centre.”

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: “Ealing is west London’s fastest growing economy and while we would have preferred not to have needed to make a CPO we simply could not stand back and allow the area to miss out on the benefits that such a development will bring.”

The scheme will also enable the creation of a more open, visitor-friendly town centre that links New Broadway, Bond Street and Walpole Park.

Now the CPO has been confirmed, construction is expected to start late 2016 and could see the cinema opening in 2018.