THE former North London Polytechnic building in Kentish Town has changed hands again, but its latest owners have told the New Journal a cinema will still open on the site.

Developers Greene and Co bought the site in Kentish Town Road two years ago and were given permission to raise the roof, convert it into 12 new homes and set up a cinema on the ground floor.

But the company did not sign off a deal for the cinema and have now sold it on to Uplift, a company which specialises in buying and restoring old buildings, using the original features as selling points.

The idea of a cinema and an arts centre in the building, which more recently was a branch of Pizza Express, has proved popular with the public, and Uplift’s founders, Kam Sagar and Peter Cadwallader, say they are looking to install a 70-seat picture house.

Mr Sagar said: “We are not changing anything from the original application but we are improving how the cinema would work.

“The seating capacity needed to be bigger to make it commercially viable, and we will need to dig out earth in the middle of the building to put in a proper auditorium. Furthermore, we have moved where the screen would be. The screen will be at the back of the building which means we wouldn’t have to touch the windows at the front.”

The New Journal revealed last year that film director Mike Figgis and his cousin, film casting agent Susie Figgis, were keen to establish an arts centre on the site, but the plans have not been finalised.

If the deal cannot be resurrected, Uplift say they are looking for an independent cinema operator to come in now and manage the cinema.

Mr Cadwallader said: “We need the space to be multi-purpose – it can’t just be a traditional cinema. We will create a café and bar area, and make it an arts centre, and we are looking for someone to come in and run it.”

He added: “We are a group of designers, architects and we are passionate about restoring old buildings. We much prefer working with an existing fabric with history and character to it, and then update it for modern use, but recognise what is already there.”

The old Poly, dating from 1927, is packed with original features. 

Mr Sagar added: “What attracted us to the Poly is it is a beautiful building in a prominent place. The original plan, by architects Allies And Morrison, is really good. I love the idea of keeping the original façade and having a modern twist on top. We do not plan to change anything outside, but we will improve it.”

The new scheme will have 12 flats on upper floors and the roof, and Uplift believe work will be completed by next September.