Second Walsall cinema is now in pipeline
A nine-screen cinema, restaurants and bars will be built at the Walsall Waterfront development under new plans revealed today.
It is the second cinema scheme earmarked for Walsall town centre in the space of a month. Developer Kier Property said the £12 million leisure complex would complete the Waterfront.
The 64,500 sq ft scheme includes not only a cinema but also 36,800 sq ft of space for restaurants and bars, as well as 196 car parking spaces.
Proposals will go on show to the public next week ahead of a formal planning application being submitted later this month. The cinema operator and number of jobs will also be revealed next week.
James Nicholson, Kier Property’s senior development manager, said: “The site has been identified as the premier leisure destination in Walsall and will attract additional footfall, and our proposals will encourage linked shopping trips by improving pedestrian walkways to the rest of the town centre. The development will create new jobs for local people.”
Under the plans, a walkway on the northern side of the canal would also be landscaped, with a new footpath added.
Links to the town’s railway station and main shopping area in Park Street would also be improved.
Walsall’s regeneration councillor Adrian Andrew today said: “This is brilliant news for the Waterfront and I have been working for many years to secure a cinema in Walsall after being told by consultants ‘no chance’. Now we have two interested in our town and we are delivering for Walsall.”
The proposals will be on show at Walsall New Art Gallery from 11am to 5pm on March 14 and 10am to 4pm on March 15.
Last month, plans for a nine-screen cinema, restaurants and bars were unveiled for land next to the town’s multi-million pound Tesco. The £5m scheme, known as The Littleton Centre, would boast a Vue cinema. Plans have been submitted to Walsall Council by Cordwell Property Group.
Walsall already has one cinema, Showcase in Bentley Mill Way. Cineworld is also in nearby Wednesfield but does not have a branch in the borough.
Comments for: "Second Walsall cinema is now in pipeline"
El Kebabra
Golf clap to the planners on this one. Whilst one leisure complex would be ideal for a town lacking in such amenities, two within a mile of each other makes no sense whatso-ever. One or both of these will end up with limited footfall, and will close due to lack of business, especially if their primary focus is Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters.
It's not a second cinema, simply a second planning application. Even if both applications get planning consent, realistically only one scheme will be delivered, as cinema operators will pick the best location.
S. Harry
Having known employees of Showcase Walsall I think it is disgusting a cinema is being built so close. Yes jobs will be created, but at what cost? One cinema will lose business and finally close meaning staff that have worked at for instance, Walsall showcase for over 20 years could possibly face being made redundant. While new staff with little training and knowledge of the industry will have employment?
Disgusting that Walsall Council would accept this.
Martin
It's a planning application by someone who thinks they can do as good a job as the Showcase, or better.
It's called 'competition' and it's part of our economic way of life.
It might force the Showcase to get better and drop it's prices a bit. Have you thought of that?
JJ
I really don't see the point i having a cinema in a town center. Not when you have to pay for parking. Rather go to start city and not have to pay
J eaton
Would it not have been better to have build something other than a cinema??Bowling alley, ice rink etc?
With these two developments and the showcase at junction 10 there will now be a total of 30!! yes 30 screens (no doubt all showing the same set of films)! all within a few miles of each other. I doubt theres enough people in Walsall who can afford to go to the cinema that often to keep them profitable.
Will not be long before one of the complexs closes and becomes a white elephant. what a waste of a good development site.
Walsall council lacks vision AGAIN!!!
Dan
Walsall Showcase is an edge city drain that does nothing to support the area around it. It would be sad to see it go but if it's for an inner-Walsall cinema I wouldn't mind so much.
kel
This is great new for those who dont drive! :) just what is needed for our town centre
thc
About a theatre or music venue instead, SHOCK HORROR!
We need reasons for people to come to Walsall, to stay overnight. Then maybe we'll have a choice of decent restaurants, Not just the chain ones and countless balti houses.
Margaret Hamilton
I sincerely hope that the new cinema has one of those mobile phone jamming devices built in to it - it would be great to go to the cinema again and see a film uninterrupted.
Fev
I fully agree with kel! my husband and I don't drive and the walk to the Showcsae is beyond us!!
jay
HELLO!
The 529 bus stop is a 5 minute walk from the showcase!
High Heath bloke
The showcase is a total dive, it deserves to close for not keeping up with the times, that whole development is a drain on the local towns and the land would be better used for industry and to create real jobs. I do agree two cinemas will struggle in the centre but if it works it will take Walsall up a few leagues as a shopping and leisure destination so good luck I say.