CINEMA CONVERSION COULD BEGIN IN JUNE

JESUS ARMY NEEDS LISTED BUILDING CONSENT TO CHANGE PICTURE HOUSE

Source : 02/02/2001 Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The conversion of Northampton's former Cannon cinema into a Jesus Army prayer centre may not be completed until 2002.

Although the religious sect has planning permission for change of use of the 1930's building in Abington Square it has yet to obtain listed building consent for the conversion.

The Jesus Army has owned the building for more than a year after winning a long battle to have the art-deco style former picture house turned into a centre for its followers.

English Heritage has visited the building and made suggestions for original features to be restored.

The issue is expected to come before the next meeting of Northampton Borough Council's development control committee in mid-February.

Communications officer, John Campbell, said: 'We have talked with English Heritage about what we want to do and they would like us to restore changes that have been made over the years.'

'The entrance lobby will be restored to full height, which was how it was originally built. The staircase will also be restored to how it used to be.'

'I hope it will have the feeling of having kept the best of the old cinema, but also bringing in the new.'

Once the Jesus Army has listed building consent architects will put the contract out to tender, and expect to begin work in June.

The conversion work, which will include creating a main prayer room in the auditorium and a cafe, is likely to take between six and nine months.

Mr Campbell said: 'We are very excited by the project. It's a very big opportunity and we are looking forward to getting it up and running.'