Birkenhead’s Gaumont cinema earmarked for housing

Southport-based developer 79th Homes has acquired the Art Deco former cinema on Park Road East for an undisclosed sum and plans to convert it into up to 30 apartments.

The much-loved Merseyside picture house would be redeveloped into between 25-30 one- and two-bedroom flats in a project estimated to cost £5.5m, according to the developer.

The plans, which are subject to consent from Wirral Council, are at an early stage and the designs are not expected to be revealed until later in the year. Phil Seddon Associates is the architect and planning consultant for the scheme.

The 72-year-old Gaumont was built on the site of the former Electric Theatre in Birkenhead and opened in 1938. It quickly became a popular local attraction, especially during and after the Second World War. However, audiences dwindled as televisions became popular in the 1960s.

The cinema showed its last film – a double bill – Lassie’s Great Adventure and Journey to the Centre of the Earth – before closing its doors in 1964. Since then, the building has operated as a bingo hall, snooker club, roller skating rink and, more recently, a furniture store.

Part of the 79th Group, 79th Homes has delivered thousands of residential and commercial units over the past 25 years, alongside private and institutional lenders. It specialises in acquiring underused buildings and converting them into residential accommodation.

The 79th Group was established by entrepreneur David Webster and has a diversified portfolio worth around £50m, according to the company.

Jake Webster 79th Homes

Managing director Jake Webster

As well as 79th Homes – a residential and commercial lettings firm as well as a developer – the group includes high end residential developer 79th Luxury Living, and gold mining operation Lusso Tesoro, which this year agreed a deal to buy a gold mining site spanning 60 square miles in north-eastern Guinea.

Jake Webster, managing director of 79th Homes, said: “The history of [the Gaumont] is fascinating. The hand and footprints of British film star Nova Pilbeams, who starred in two of Alfred Hitchcock’s pre-Hollywood films, can still be seen on the pavement adjacent to the entrance.

“If we can, we’d like to incorporate those into the redevelopment of the building, which represents an exciting project in an area of substantial planned regeneration.”

Webster added: “Subject to planning, we are confident that we can convert this building in line with its surrounds and environment, maintaining the original façade and many of the historic, internal features, but also providing modern, quality, affordable housing that is in high demand in this area.”

Birkenhead and the wider Wirral are undergoing a significant long-term regeneration led by the local council, and, in Birkenhead town centre, by the council’s delivery partner Muse Developments.

 

 

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

And so another of our fast disappearing art deco cinemas is to succumb to demolition men. I`ve known other cinemas with conversion plans just vanish altogether when it comes to it.

By Hazel Brooks

If it was built in 1938 it is 82 years old.
Better than it getting demolished. Well done for saving this building

By Anonymous

Its holds so many wonderful memories for me with family visits and visits with friends as l grew up so sad to see closure

By Jacqueline Ithell

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below