Grand plan for historic landmark
THE multi-million pound redevelopment of an Islington landmark could be finished by 2012 - but a "contemporary" block of 44 flats will have to be built to pay for it.
The Grade II* listed former Mecca bingo hall, in Essex Road, originally opened as the Carlton cinema in 1930 but has sat empty since it closed in 2007.
Newly-founded evangelical church Resurrection Manifestations wants to restore the 2,300-capacity building as a conference centre, cinema and community venue. The project would cost at least £18million, on top of the £5million the church is rumoured to have paid for it.
But a seven-storey block of 44 flats - none of which would be "affordable" - and a new 520-seat basement banqueting hall would be built to finance the scheme.
Christian Kusi-Yeboah, 39, treasurer of Resurrection Manifestations, said: "English Heritage is supportive because it under-stands we've got to keep the building in use to bring it back to its former glory."
Sarah Round, of planning consultants the London Planning Practice, added: "The apartments will be around the back. If we could make them affordable we would, but that takes away funding."
The revamped building would be a licensed venue run by a separate company and could be used for anything from conferences to film premieres.
Resurrection Manifestations - founded as a charity in 2007 but which currently has no congregation - would use the building for worship on "one or two nights a week and Sundays", according to Mr Kusi-Yeboah.
He said: "It won't be named after the church because it's not going to be solely a church building. From Monday to Friday it's available for any use. We're taking about [opening in] 2012 for the Olympics, we're hopeful to get trade from that."
Many of the building's original features are still in tact - but it is in a dilapidated state after two years of neglect.
When asbestos was discovered above the main stage last year it took eight weeks to remove it at a cost of at least £200,000.
Victor Dzodzome, 46, the church's facilities manager, said: "Obviously being
a Grade II* listed building there's features we have to retain. We have removed 97 per cent of the asbestos. This is the mess we inherited and we want to turn it into something glorious."
The plans include restoring the original tea rooms, a 110-seat cinema, new heating and air-conditioning systems and installing a lift for disabled access.
Mr Kusi-Yeboah is adamant the scheme could regenerate the Essex Road area.
"It's time for change on this side of Islington," he said. "It's saving a building that's been here for generations."
The plans go on public display at the former bingo hall tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday and are expected to go before Islington Council by December.
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