FILM fans celebrated last night (Tuesday) as councillors approved plans to open a new cinema in Kentish Town.

The planning permission was granted for the former North London Polytechnic building on the corner of Kentish Town Road and Prince of Wales Road. It means exciting plans for a new cinema and arts centre – revealed in a New Journal exclusive earlier this month – have moved a step closer to reality.

The project to create a venue similar to the celebrated Tricycle in Kilburn to NW5 is being pushed by famous casting director Susie Higgins and her cousin, the Leaving Las Vegas director Mike Figgis. 

Councillors on the Town Halls planning committee voted in favour of a scheme to convert the building, which was later run as a branch of Pizza Express, into a new homes and cinema complex.

Developers Redview were given permission to build a two storey roof extension for housing on the 1920s building as part of the arrangement.

Planning officers had recommended the scheme be refused – but councillors said the public support for a cinema was such the scheme should go ahead, with ten councillors voting in favour and three abstentions. Cinema groups Everyman and Shortwave are also interested in running the screen. 

Ms Figgis told the New Journal today (Wednesday) she was pleased the plans had been approved, and the next step was to start talking with Shortwave  and the owners of the building to discuss forming a board to take forward the film and arts centre plan.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled this has gone through. I have had a tremendous response, through letters, emails and phone calls from really exciting people who are keen to contribute and support an arts centre.

"We are also looking into the possibility of how it can be a multi-purpose space and bring in brilliant programmes when it is not being used for screenings. One of the things we are most excited about is the idea of exploring how this beautiful space isn't rigid and can be used in different ways. For example, after you've seen a movie, by changing the seating arrangements, it could be used for theatre in the round.”

On board with the Figgis plan is producer Gary Reich, who not only has worked on a number of award winning TV series but runs training programmes with young unemployed people to help get them work in TV and film. Other well known figures have informed the New Journal they would like to become involved, including an internationally renowned actress and a leading figure in British media. 

Shortwave, who own a one screen cinema in Bermondsey, have drawn up detailed plans for the cinema.

Owner David Kelly told the New Journal: “We are extremely happy. We have designs ofr a flexible screen system so the area could be used for things like book launches, for lectures, and other events. We are open and flexible to what the community needs and we are very interested in meeting with the Figgis group to move the plans forward.”

The committee also passed a plan for a one storey scheme which would have nine flats and shops on the ground floor, but the developers say they will move forward with the cinema project.