Campaigners have appealed a decision not to list The Electric cinema in Birmingham (Image: Darren John)
Campaigners are appealing against a decision not to grant listed status to Britain’s oldest working cinema. Last year’s closure of The Electric in Station Street, , sparked outrage among locals. The art-deco cinema, which opened in 1909, had survived two world wars, economic downturns and pandemics. A bid to protect the building with listed status had been backed by more than 25,000 people who signed a petition urging the city’s leaders to save the venue and Station Street from “destruction”.
But the listing application was rejected by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England. It argued The Electric didn’t meet the strict criteria required, in part because the surviving building is “largely the product of refurbishment in the early 2000s”. Now campaign group Save Station Street has appealed to DCMS, urging the Government to rethink the decision not to list.
Campaigner Darren John said: “This is an opportunity to right a huge wrong against a million proud Brummies and 115 years of our accumulated social and cultural history.”
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Campaigners want The Electric reopened as an independent cinema again (Image: PA Images)
He told the Express members of the campaign want The Electric reopened as an independent cinema and enduring symbol of civic pride in the city. Mr John said any “sensible” city in Britain home to the oldest working cinema would hold it in trust for the benefit of locals in perpetuity. Mr John added: “Sadly, Birmingham is a basket case.”
The group claims there are “significant flaws” in Historic England’s report, including a failure to fully recognise The Electric’s national importance and historic links to the playwright George Bernard Shaw, who was a regular customer. Save Station Street also claims Historic England overlooked certain features of the building and carried out a simplistic analysis of The Electric’s architectural elements.
Mr John urged West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, Birmingham City Council Leader John Cotton and local MP Shabana Mahmood to speak to Culture Secretary about protecting The Electric.
A stretch of Station Street itself is the focus of redevelopment plans which campaigners fear could risk not only The Electric, but The Crown pub where heavy metal band Black Sabbath played their first gig. Mr John cautioned that if Station Street’s redevelopment isn’t carried out sensitively enough, then it could cause material damage to the thoroughfare’s historic buildings.
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The Electric’s closure prompted moves to have it listed (Image: PA Images)
Glenbrook Property, which owns The Electric’s lease, declined to comment. But a statement on its website notes the firm recognises The Electric Cinema is of significant cultural value to Birmingham.
The statement adds: “It is a resilient, evolving, independent institution which has delivered over a century of film and cinema. Our ambition is to safeguard and deliver a thriving destination for independent cinema at the heart of Station Street for another century at least.”
Glenbrook says it will develop a “robust” plan for The Electric to deliver a “cultural catalyst” which will “re-invigorate” The Electric and bring about a “vibrant and successful future” for the whole of Station Street.
DCMS confirmed it has received an appeal to review the listing decision for The Electric and the review will decide whether the original decision should be upheld or overturned. That review should be carried out independently by a DCMS official who wasn’t involved in the original listing or scheduling decision.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “The decision taken by Historic England, the Government’s advisor on heritage, not to list The Electric cinema means the council will need to work with the owner of the building to find a new purpose for the site that will still contribute positively to the future of the city and wider region.
“The council will give every regard to the cultural significance that the site has with the former Electric cinema, including exploring a local listing.”
A Historic England spokesperson said: “The story of The Electric cinema is part of the story of Birmingham, but ultimately listing is not the correct mechanism for protecting or telling this particular story.”
They added: “The decision not to list The Electric in no way diminishes the significant and lasting impact Station Street has had on music, film and theatre in the UK and beyond.
“Nor does it prevent efforts to recognise the importance of this area in other ways, such as by the establishment of a conservation area.”