THE developer behind plans to demolish a historic cinema in the heart of Wanstead has lodged an appeal against the council's rejection of his latest plan.

Four unsuccessful bids to demolish the Kinema have been made by developer Nam Pham over the last two and a half years because they were considered to be inappropriate for the high street.

Redbridge Council's regulatory committee blocked a plan to replace the mock-Tudor building with two four-storey buildings, including a restaurant and takeaway at street level.

It ruled the Kinema forms an important part of the High Street and the proposed buildings would fail to preserve the character of the area.

Summarising the view of the committee, the minutes of the meeting said: "The loss of this building would harm the special character of the Wanstead Village Conservation Area and in particular weaken the heritage value and interest of the high street."

Now Mr Pham is lodging an appeal to the Secretary of State for Communities, claiming the committee's conclusions were wrong.

But Wanstead historian, Brian Page, insisted losing the building, which closed as a cinema in 1956 and has been used as a bowling alley and a bingo hall, would be damaging to the area.

He said: "This is an ancient building within the landscape of Wanstead High Street.

"The front which is mock-Tudor should be retained whatever development takes place. If the mock-Tudor front is not retained we would lose another scene in the high street.

"We must not lose any more of our heritage.

"The council have made the right decision in respect that it is a conservation area and it is important to conserve the heritage that we have remaining."

Mr Pham has been approached for comment.

The building was converted into its current form in 1897 and was opened as a cinema in 1930.

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