EMD Cinema Planning Appeal and Public Inquiry

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) has launched an ‘eleventh hour’ planning Appeal in a last ditch attempt to convert Walthamstow’s EMD Cinema for religious use.

The planning application aimed at converting the EMD into a place of worship was finally rejected by Waltham Forest Council in May last year following a long campaign by the McGuffin Film Society and local residents (see below for full details). The new Appeal means the case will now be reconsidered by government planning inspectors who have the power to overturn the local authority decision and grant permission for the church scheme – if they can be persuaded of its merits.

Councillors and senior council officers are now likely to be forced to defend their decision at a Public Inquiry which is currently expected to take place in June 2012.

Full details about the forthcoming Public Inquiry will be posted on this website shortly.