A DECISION on whether the former EMD cinema can be turned into a church will not be made until next year.

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) submitted an application in August to convert the Grade II* listed building, but council officers have not been able to gain access to the building in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, to carry out an assessment due to maintenance work.

A council spokesman told the Guardian “issues are still being discussed” between council officers and the UCKG's agents, and a date has not been set for the application to be considered by the council’s planning committee.

Bill Hodgson of the McGuffin Film Society, which has been campaigning to retain the building as a cinema, said: "It is good news that steps have now been taken to maintain the building.

“But it is frustrating that a decision on the EMD's future is going to take even longer than expected.”

The cinema closed in 2003 when it was bought by UCKG, but initial plans to convert the venue into a church were refused by the Government following a public inquiry.

The recent application is to change the cinema into a mixed-use development incorporating “religious and community assembly”, a café, shops and self-contained flats for use by church members.

The church intends to hand over the management of the building’s Granada Rooms, which will be available for film screenings and community use, to an independent management company.

The McGuffin Film Society is holding a film quiz night to raise funds for the cinema campaign on Saturday (December 5).

The event will take place at the Rose and Crown pub in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, from 8.30pm.