The restoration of the former Granada Cinema into Soho Theatre Walthamstow picked up three gongs at the Building London Planning Awards this week

Soho Theatre Walthamstow, Credit: David Levene

Waltham Forest Council has won three awards at a prestigious awards ceremony supported by the Mayor of London.

The restoration of the former Granada Cinema into Soho Theatre Walthamstow picked up three gongs at the Building London Planning Awards this week.

Delivered by BusinessLDN, in partnership with the Mayor of London, the prestigious awards ceremony was held at Glaziers Hall in central London and highlighted outstanding planning and development projects across the city.

The Mayor’s Award for Good Growth, selected from among the winners of all other categories, went to the former Granada Cinema restoration by the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The scheme also won in the Placemaking, Heritage and Culture and Best Borough-Led Project categories.

Jules Pipe CBE, deputy mayor for planning and regeneration, said: “Huge congratulations to all of the winners at this year’s Building London Planning Awards, which continues to celebrate the very best projects throughout the capital. The diversity of award winners reflects the breadth of expertise that is driving forward world-leading delivery across our built environment, despite very challenging conditions. Thanks to all of the organisations that made this year’s ceremony such a brilliant event, including Newmark for supporting the Mayor’s Award for Good Growth.”

Council deputy leader Ahsan Khan said: “We are thrilled that Waltham Forest has been recognised for the outstanding work we’ve achieved by transforming the much-loved Grade II* listed former Granada Cinema building.

“The revival of this iconic venue embodies our vision for Waltham Forest as a vibrant neighbourhood with culture on every corner. In partnership with Soho Theatre Walthamstow, the new operators, we are already seeing positive impacts through community engagement, job creation and support for the night-time economy.’’

Westminster City Council’s Darwin House Building picked up the Best New Place to Live award – a community-supported development recognised by the judges as a project “where the needs of residents have shaped all aspects of design.”

The City of London’s 100 Fetter Lane development was named the Best New Place to Work for its wellbeing-led design, which encompasses roof terraces, a pocket park and links to a City garden, as well as being operationally net zero. Newmark’s St Pancras Commercial Centre in Camden, a project set to deliver significant improvements to the local public realm, scooped the award for best mixed-use project.

Other winners included the public-private partnership behind the new Silvertown Tunnel, as well as the Earls Court Development Company’s community-led masterplan, set to deliver a multibillion-pound boost to the capital’s economy.

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