News / Arts
Whiteladies Picture House – ‘Unlawful’ plans
Bristol City Council (BCC) has admitted its approval for plans to convert the derelict Whiteladies Picture House was unlawful.
Campaigner David Fells, who is seeking judicial review of the decision, said the council had not properly followed national guidelines, leaving the building “vulnerable”.
Councillors unanimously approved plans in Juneunanimously approved plans in June which would see cinema operator Everyman join forces with owners Medinbrand to create a three-screen cinema. Five apartments would be built within the grade II-listed building as an enabling development.
But Mr Fells, founder of the Whiteladies Picture House Group, said the plans failed to fully secure planning requirements.
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‘Law applied incorrectly’
He told Bristol24/7 yesterday that his lawyers had heard from BCC admitting the planning permission and listed building consent was unlawful.
“In particular they have failed to apply the law correctly in respect of the statutory protections given to listed buildings,” he said.
Mr Fells said extra guarantees had to be put in place to the planning agreement that would prevent, or at least make more difficult, any plans to change the use of the building from a cinema.
Previously, plans were submitted to the council to convert the 1920s building into a gym.
Full support for plans
“We now hope that Medinbrand will work with Bristol council and the Cinema Theatre Association to make small changes to the plans and put additional guarantees in place to ensure that the Whiteladies Picture House is properly protected when converted into Everyman’s three screen cinemam,” Mr Fells added.
“I have contacted Medinbrand to express our desire to help in this process and have stated that with all relevant guarantees in place we will fully support the planning application when it is re-submitted to the planning department.
“Everyone has the same vision, to have a cinema within the building, and the council is going forward with this ideal. But they need to do things by the book.”
A BCC spokesperson said yesterday the council was “in continued discussions with the claimant” but would not give any further details, or deny claims that the council’s decision had been unlawful.
The building’s owner, Medinbrand, said it was working with the council to add a new condition to the plans guaranteeing use as a cinema.
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