THE OLD Vinyl Factory regeneration in Hayes is one step closer to becoming a reality after the project was overwhelming endorsed by councillors.

The radical masterplan for the Blyth Road site, once home to the factories of HMV and EMI, was unanimously approved at yesterday's (Thursday) central and south planning committee at the Civic Centre, Uxbridge, in what was described as a 'historic day' for the area.

Because of the scale of the development, it will now be referred to the Mayor of London, but if he decides not to determine the application himself, that will be the final obstacle removed and work can proceed.

The 'mini village' will contain over 500 flats, provide offices for up to 4,000 workers, and restaurants, museum, a sustainable energy centre, and playgrounds and landscaped gardens will also be on the 17-acre site.

Martyn Evans, Director of Cathedral, the joint developers behind the project, said the decision was an 'hugely important step' to realising the vision, and added: "We are looking forward to making this a place where people want to come.

"We are not investors who sit on property and don't do anything with it in the short term.  We are developers which means we have an impetus to crack on with the development as soon as possible, and we have worked hard to get the right scheme."

A nine-screen cinema, in a building called the Picturehouse, will be managed by Vue, with the deal struck just last week.

The Picturehouse is one of several buildings facing Blyth Road that will house cultural and leisure attractions, and will be built first.

The money generated from the residential properties will help fund the refurbishment of the listed but derelict factory buildings, which were designed by renowned art deco architects, Wallis, Gilbert and Partners, for office space.

The site has been neglected for around 30 years, and David Brough, chairman of the Hayes Town Partnership, said this would be the start of Hayes 'rising from the ashes.'

"Many people had given up on anything being done there until (Cathedral) came on the scene. It is a historic day."