THE deadline has passed for Empire Cinemas to finish work on the long neglected cinema in Ealing, as the council starts to look for a new owner for the site.

The company demolished most of the building for what it claimed was renovation work at the cinema in 2008.

Construction has never been completed and despite assurances from Empire that it would recommence work, the site fell into disrepair.

The council issued Empire with an ultimatum and the deadline passed on Wednesday, October 24. Ealing Council will now instruct lawyers to apply for a compulsory purchase order to acquire the land from the company.

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council said: “After months of repeatedly calling Empire to move the project forward, we have seen no evidence of their intention to do so.

“We will now progress without them; apply for the compulsory purchase order, select a new developer and move a step closer to the new cinema we’ve all been waiting for. The site is as derelict now as it was in 2008 when Empire demolished the old cinema. We’ve been very patient with them, but enough is enough.”

Mr Bell said the final decision to apply for a compulsory purchase order was made at a meeting of the cabinet earlier this year. It was also agreed that the council should start looking for a developer or partner to buy the site and rebuild the cinema.

Under the terms of the agreement, any developer would have to meet all costs associated with buying the land. Mr Bell said the council has since received ‘strong interest’ from several major developers.