Plans to demolish a beloved independent cinema in East London and replace it with a block of student flats have been thrown out by local councillors, leaving the venue's future hanging in the balance.
Council Rejects 'Overbearing' Redevelopment
Tower Hamlets Council's development committee voted unanimously on Thursday, 27th November, to refuse planning permission for the controversial scheme. The proposal sought to knock down the current Genesis Cinema building on Mile End Road in Stepney and construct an eight-storey student accommodation block with 291 rooms.
The plans included a new, smaller four-screen cinema with 447 seats located in the basement, a significant reduction from the current five-screen, 946-seat setup. The cinema's owner, Tyrone Walker-Hebborn, argued passionately that this redevelopment was "the only way we can save the cinema" from closure.
A 'Dire' Financial Picture vs. Heritage Concerns
Walker-Hebborn told councillors the business was in a "really really dire situation", having suffered an estimated £10 million loss in income over the past five years due to the impact of lockdowns and changing audience habits. He posed a stark question to the committee: "Do you want the cinema to close on your watch or do you want the cinema to remain open?"
However, planning officers recommended refusal, stating the demolition would mean "the loss of an important cultural venue with extensive cinematic and entertainment heritage". They argued the new building's size and scale would have a "detrimental impact" on neighbours and constitute an "overbearing form of development" within a conservation area.
Community Reaction and Future Hopes
Local residents echoed these concerns, with one stating the proposed building would "entirely overshadow and dwarf" the area and create a "horrible sense of enclosure". Another questioned whether the scheme was truly about saving the cinema or was instead "a property deal" aimed at maximising land value.
While councillors expressed empathy for the owner's plight, they sided with the officers' report. Labour councillor Mufeeda Bustin said she hoped Walker-Hebborn would "reflect on some of the points that have been made and maybe consider how a fresh application may be able to get permission". The committee, comprising Aspire, Labour, and independent members, agreed the plans failed to provide enough affordable student housing and would result in a significant loss of community value.
The refusal leaves the fate of the cherished, family-run Genesis Cinema uncertain, caught between urgent financial pressures and the desire to preserve a vital piece of East London's cultural fabric.
