Plans to pack 83 flats onto a “compressed”  former cinema site in Leyton won unanimous approval from councillors last night.

Waltham Forest Council’s planning committee approved plans for two blocks of flats – five and six storeys high – at the former Ritz Cinema in High Road, Leyton.

The cinema- and its distinctive art deco-style facade – was built in 1938 but closed in 1979. Its auditorium was used as office space for many years but, due to the “deteriorating condition” of the building, has been empty since 2020.

Although not listed, the façade is considered “something of a local landmark” and will be preserved, albeit with a five-storey block rising behind it.

The plans have attracted criticism from the Council for British Archaeology, who argued building a five-storey block behind the facade “totally fails to respect the architectural design”.

In a written submission to the planning committee, they said: “We strongly recommend that the applicants revise their designs to reduce the proposed massing below the level of the 1930s façade.”

A CGI image of the proposed blocks (credit: Woolbro Evolution)

Despite voting “reluctantly” in favour of the plans, Conservative committee member John Moss questioned why there will be only three on-site parking bays, despite eight of the flats being designed for disabled residents.

He said: “Neither Leyton, Leytonstone nor Walthamstow stations are step-free. Are the residents of the non-parking space flats expected to live their life within fifty metres of the property?”

Council planning officer Karim Badawi said the shortage of accessible bays was discussed “in detail” with the developer, Woolbro Evolution, before the application was submitted and that council officers had “accepted the lower parking standards” given the size of the site and the number of units proposed.

Committee chair Jenny Gray further argued that providing a parking space for every accessible flat would not be “environmentally friendly”.

She added that disabled residents of car-free developments are still eligible for on-street parking permits, unlike other residents.

Concluding the debate, Cllr Gray said: “I think this is a pretty imaginative scheme for a very difficult site and does add things like landscaping – I think it’s good that it’s car-free.”

Oliver Milne, planning agent from property developer Savills, said the development team are “proud” of the designs, which would replace a cinema building that is no longer “fit for purpose”.

He added that council officers have been providing pre-application planning advice about redeveloping the cinema since 2017.