Campaigners have bemoaned the “never ending” saga of what will happen to the former EMD cinema after the result of an appeal which could determine its future was delayed.

Waltham Forest Cinema Trust members have already waited five months to hear the verdict on an appeal launched by the United Church for the Kingdom of God (UCKG) over its plans to turn the site into a church-cinema hybrid.

The UCKG's plans were rejected last September by Waltham Forest Council and its subsequent appeal spurred the government’s planning inspectorate to undertake a full public inquiry over the site in Hoe Street, Walthamstow.

That inquiry concluded last December, but yesterday the government told the trust that the decision, due this week, had been indefinitely delayed “due to unforeseen circumstances”.

Both the UCKG and the trust are now waiting to discover whether or not the appeal will be successful.

Bill Hodgson, a member of the trust, said: “It’s already been five months, we think that would be long enough.

“It’s incredibly frustrating. All these delays just make it seem never ending.”

The trust hopes to turn the site in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, into a cinema and live performance venue.

But members are relying on the church's bid being rejected before they can implement their plans.

They hope that if it is turned down the council could carry out a compulsory purchase order, effectively forcing the church to sell it to the authority, meaning the trust could begin work.

The UCKG bought the listed building in 2002 but has repeatedly failed to get planning permission to convert it into a place of worship.

Trust chairman Neil Gerrard said: “It’s really aggravating. I’ve been in touch with the council and we’re trying to find out from the government what the new date is.

“We’re confident of a positive result and we want to get on with it. At the moment there’s nothing we can do to move on with our plans until this process is concluded.”

The Guardian has approached the government and UCKG for comment.