£1.5m plans to turn former Bloxwich cinema into pub could create up to 45 jobs
A former cinema could now be converted into a high street pub, creating up to 45 jobs, after new £1.5 million plans were revealed today.
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon wants to revamp the old Electric Palace in Bloxwich, which was most recently used as social hub.
A planning application has been lodged with Walsall Council for the High Street site and comes after previous proposals to take over the nearby Bulls Head pub were scrapped last year.
The most recent use of Electric Palace was as a youth centre but young people and community groups moved to alternative sites in 2011. It has been standing empty and the new plans will help to revitalise the building.
The application put forward through agent Keith Paine, of KD Paine & Associates Ltd, said: "The building has suffered from neglect and has had many former uses. The building has recently suffered from fire damage rendering the upper parts unusable.
"The applicants have now bought the freehold and intend to invest in excess of £1.5m in the full repair, restoration and refurbishment of this building as a fully functioning public house.
"There will be no change to the substantial external parts of the existing building structure and its elevations. The exterior will be repaired and made good."
Wetherspoon had previously been granted planning permission to transform the former Bulls Head in Park Street. JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said the new scheme for the Electric Palace building was subject to planning and licensing approval.
He said: "Wetherspoon was looking at a different site in the town last year, but has now decided on the new site.
"The pub would cost £1.5m to develop with the creation of 40-45 full and part time jobs.
The application is due to go before the planning committee or be considered by officers under delegated powers in the coming months.
Bloxwich councillor Fred Westley welcomed the plans. He said: "It is a derelict building on the High Street. Anything that brings job or money into the area has got to be welcomed.
"It should increase footfall especially up that end of the street."
