First glimpse of new nine-screen Odeon cinema at Walsall Waterfront
Cinema giant Odeon can today be revealed as the chain behind plans to open a new nine-screen complex in Walsall.
It would be part of a £12 million leisure scheme at the town centre Waterfront, which, it is hoped, will bring more than 250 jobs.
New bars, shops and restaurants would also be created as part of the new development.
Odeon, which is the largest cinema chain in the country with more than 100 sites, is in direct competition with rival firm Vue to open in the town centre.
Cordwell Property Group is hoping to build its own £5 million leisure complex with a Vue cinema, bars and restaurants next to the town’s Tesco store, promising to create 200 jobs. An application for that has been submitted.
Kier Property, which is behind the Waterfront project, was today holding a public exhibition about the plan at The New Art Gallery Walsall. The 64,500sq ft scheme, earmarked for the north side of the canal, includes 36,800sq ft of space for restaurants and bars, as well as around 200 car parking spaces.
Bosses behind the scheme today said it would help revitalise the town centre to bringing more people in.
It will also lead to improved pedestrian links to the town centre and railway station.
A planning application is due to be submitted later this month.
James Nicholson, Kier Property’s senior development manager, said: “We’re delighted Odeon has agreed to be part of this prestigious development.
“With the site designated as the town’s preferred location for a leisure destination, our proposals will play an important part in providing an economic boost for the town centre by creating new jobs and attracting additional footfall.
“We’re looking forward to hearing what local people and businesses have to say about our proposals before we submit a planning application.”
He said there had already been a lot of positive feedback to the scheme.
It would be the first picture house in Walsall town centre since 1993 when ABC Cinema, in the former Woolworth’s building at the top of Park Street, closed after more than 50 years.
There is also a Showcase Cinema in Bentley Mill Way, Bentley.
Comments for: "First glimpse of new nine-screen Odeon cinema at Walsall Waterfront"
Martacus Redd
Walsall seem to go big on boxes. I wish someone, in connection with architecture in Walsall would be introduced to the curve
Dan
Walsall's getting two cinemas and Wolverhampton hasn't got one. (The Lighthouse, while brilliant, just isn't the same).
Jason Giles
Bentley Bridge is not in Wolverhampton then?
Dan
Bentley Bridge is in Wednesfield. I know it's in Wolverhampton the wider city, but it is not in the city centre - so does not provide the same benefits. The city needs a nightlife. Bowling, cinemas, they're all located in edge city sites benefiting nobody but themselves. Bentley Bridge is the equivalent of Bentley Mill Way for Walsall, except with more shops.
jeaton
nice black box.
bet it took .ooooh a matter of minutes to design that!!
Mr Richard's
Couldn't agree more, another dull looking big box, looks more like a factory unit than a leisure scheme, a prime example of a scheme with little or no thought to its surroundings
handyandy
Wish they hadn’t given us a ‘glimpse’ with that design, truly terrible, surely the planners won’t allow this on such an important site in the Town!!
A.2
Give designs team a big pat on their backs for their very imaginary Odeon cinema design Im sure I can do the same on my
a4 sheet of paper and a pencil who nedds CAD ha ha.
Danimal
The exterior looks like it was designed at five to five on a Friday afternoon. Hope the interior is more exciting!
martin
Just what Walsall needs, more bars for fat smokers to stand outside.
I don't expect these 250 service jobs (low-skill, minimum wage?) will go a long way to reducing the long-term decline in manufacturing.
(see "...Walsall Borough has seen a steady decline in manufacturing employment. Between
1998 and 2008 it lost almost half of its jobs in the sector." Walsall Council WALSALL EMPLOYMENT LAND REVIEW 2012 UPDATE)
Martacus Redd
I take it back with my reference to curved buildings in Walsall. I've just remembered the new bus station. Stick with boxes Walsall, much safer.
Pluto
Go with VUE-Walsall----Much nicer cinemas
thc
How about a music/theatre venue. Think outside the box instead of designing one!
Guthrie
oh ah!!! should build a complex in Bilston, it's what this fantastic town needs at the moment.
put the classics back on "the carry on's" and "on the buses".
Dave
Where has £12m gone in that design - it is an industrial building
Rob
Having multiple screens to sit and look at is part of the towns anti-obesity drive I suppose?
rojo uk
Brill.....Wolverhampton loses out again. How about something nice for us Wulfrunians for a change.
Kerry
OK its not the best design structure but people in the area moan we haven't got anything in walsall and when something is being done to change that we moan again
Never Satisfied!
Walsall needs being brought up to date! We should be welcoming all this development work because it will bring jobs in, yes maybe low paid but isnt it better to have a job than not a job all ?
pete
Don`t worry as with all the other leisure projects Walsall come up with this one won`t get built.