The demolition of what was once one of South Bristol’s most popular buildings is imminent, with machinery to tear it down now in place.
The former 1930s art deco cinema on Filwood Broadway in Knowle West has been earmarked for demolition since 2019, but a plan for what will be built there in its place was only given permission earlier this year.
Since then, contractors have been working to clear the internal fixtures and fittings of the building, which became a bingo hall for around 15 years but has been empty and abandoned for the past 29 years.
Read next: Plans for 30 homes at old Filwood Broadway cinema approved by councillors
Cranes and machinery was brought in to the site in the heart of Filwood Broadway today (Thursday, March 30), with the demolition expected to get underway on Friday, or early next week.
There had been a late campaign to save the building, led by one local resident, Nick Haskins, who got into the building as the contractors moved in, and vowed to squat there.
But when the plans to replace the cinema building and surrounding site went to the City Hall council planning committee in January, the local residents were told they were too late - the council gave planning permission for the building to be demolished in 2019, and all that was left to decide was what is going to replace it.
That will be a crescent of 17 flats and 13 houses, with commercial space on the ground floor for retail or community use. There will be several three- and four-storey buildings fronting onto Filwood Broadway.
At around the same time planning permission for that was granted, Filwood Broadway was awarded £14.5 million of Government Levelling Up money.
More news from Knowle West:
- How Knowle West's boxing dynasty is now in its third generation
- New sports facility for under-pressure part of South Bristol
Bristol area leading housing revolution that sees tiny homes being built in back gardens
- Levelling Up scheme grants £14.5m for Filwood Broadway regeneration in Bristol
- Man who squatted inside derelict cinema vows to return to halt demolition
- Millions to be spent completely transforming rundown high street in South Bristol
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