New Plans To Be Submitted to Demolish Shepherd's Bush Palladium

The Shepherd's Bush Palladium, more recently known as the Walkabout Pub, was saved from demolition back in May 2015.

At the time, our Council rejected Dorsett Regency's plan to demolish the historic cinema and turn it into a 16 storey block of flats.

According to the Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Forum, new plans have been proposed, currently in the pre-application stage, which still involve demolition of much of the building.

this 2015 proposal was rejected

The new proposal still includes a new "eight storey" tower, but not as tall as the original proposal (see image right), and it will "retain the front and side elevations" of the old cinema.

So, overall, this seems like an approach more in keeping with the building's historic setting.

The architects are Flanagan Lawrence, the same firm who re-developed the neighbouring Dorsett Regency hotel, which has been widely applauded as a sympathetic redevelopment of a historic building, retaining its character - while keeping it commercially viable.

The new tower will have around 52 furnished short stay apartments. In addition, a small Arts Cinema is proposed - to be housed in a new basement below the site. This will be an independent cinema and the Dorsett team are in discussion with potential operators; thereby maintaining the historic function of the old cinema.

First built in 1910 as the Shepherd's Bush Cinematograph Theatre, The Palladium stopped showing films in 1981, and was eventually converted into a pub, owned and operated for many years by the Walkabout chain.

The original theatre was one of the oldest in the country. It was first built in 1910 by entrepreneur Montagu Pike, part of an empire of moving picture houses that swept across London.

Pop around the corner of the old theatre (which still wears its Australasian green yellow and gold plumage out front) and you can see the old painted ticket prices down the side of the building, advertising tickets from a shilling and sixpence (the posh seats) to 3d (the cheap seats).

Shepherd's Bush Green Conservation Area.
The Palladium is marked in yellow

The Palladium is in a Conservation Area - Shepherd's Bush Green, but the building is not on the listed buildings register - which makes its position precarious.

And Shepherd's Bush is also an Opportunity Area, which suggests that these new plans might well receive a sympathetic ear.

However, before before any new planning application is submitted to the Council, Dorsett Regency say they will be organising a full public consultation on the revised plans.

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