Regal Cinema plans approved 

New homes, cinema and a café bar are coming to Highams Park  

Film fans in Waltham Forest can look forward to another two screens opening in the borough after a planning application for the Regal Cinema site in Highams Park was approved at Planning Committee on Tuesday 16 July. 

Plans for The Regal, which is owned by Mammoth Capital, include: 

·  the retention and restoration of the street frontage historical façade  

·  the construction of a part two, part six storey building 

·  a two-screen cinema and a café bar on the ground floor level  

·  33 residential apartments on the floors above.  

Mammoth worked up the new proposal considering previous feedback from engagement with residents, including an exhibition held in December 2022 attended by over 200 people, as well as wider online engagement and a series of pre-application meetings.  

Locals had the opportunity to comment on the planning application from March 2024 right up until the Planning Committee meeting. 

Councillor Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration said: “This is an exciting step in the journey to reinvigorate a much cherished but neglected historical cinema that all residents can benefit from, alongside a café and new homes. I know Highams Park residents have been waiting a long time for the site to come forward and it’s finally happening with help from the council. The 33 new homes will contribute towards our ambitious plans to create 27,000 new homes alongside the vital infrastructure that Waltham Forest needs, in line with our Local Plan that was adopted earlier this year.” 

Councillor Rosalind Doré, Cabinet Member for Libraries, Culture, Sports and Leisure said: “The Regal Cinema is an iconic building in the centre of Highams Park. There has been much enthusiasm from the local community to revitalise the building and create a space that everyone can benefit from. Now Mammoth’s plans have planning approval, the process can move forward to find a cinema operator. The site owner will be responsible for marketing the space and agreeing the lease with a cinema operator, with the council assisting with the promotion to get the best offer for Highams Park residents and the town centre.” 

Find out more about the plans on the Regal Cinema website.