Demolition work to begin next week on historic south Bristol cinema left to decay

Demolition work will begin next week to bring down an abandoned cinema and bingo hall in Knowle West. The building could make way for Bristol City Council to build 30 ‘affordable homes with community and commercial space’.

Approval to demolish the site, at 18 - 20 Filwood Broadway, was granted in June 2019 with two subsequant public consultations on the building’s future. Broadway Cinema was opened in 1938 before becoming a bingo hall in the early 70s though the building has been left to rot for more than 30 years.

Writing in a guest blog post for Bristol mayor, Marvin Rees, Labour councillor Tom Renhard described how the site could look if planning permission is approved.

Cllr Renhard said: “We are grateful to residents who shared their views in the public consultation in December 2019 which looked through the draft design options. A second round of public consultation is now closed. The first phase of this work included removing asbestos on site and preparing the required structural works.

“The planning application is for the creation of 30 dwellings comprising of ten one-bedroom units, eleven two-bedroom units, and nine three-bedroom units. In total there will be 17 flats and 13 houses, connected to a communal ground source heat pump system. This development will deliver as much social rent accommodation as possible, supported by an element of shared ownership housing where necessary to make the scheme viable.”

The application will propose ‘flexible community and commercial space’ with plans to possible relocate the public library on the site alongside shops and cafes. The application for this was submitted in July with a decision expected by early 2023. If granted, the council has said it expects construction to commence in February 2024. More details about this regeneration work can be found on its website.