A major stumbling block to Derbyshire Council’s plan to seize, demolish and replace an abandoned cinema has been cleared. At a meeting today (May 24), Erewash Borough Council officials announced that landowners opposing the compulsory purchase of the former Galaxy Row Cinema in Derby Road, Long Eaton had withdrawn their opposition.
This means there will be no need to hold a formal and costly public inquiry into the matter, but will instead be dealt with amicably in the coming weeks – rather than potentially months followed by a decision by a planning inspector. The council says it can now move forward in the hope that the massively overrun timeline for the project can be significantly reduced.
The next step is to select a company that will carry out the replacement of the former cinema with a range of flats, houses and shops – unless they wish to submit their own planning application – and possibly the demolition of the cinema. Erewash MP Maggie Throup, Long Eaton Town Deal Board chairman Richard Ledger and deputy leader Cllr James Dawson all backed a plan to place a large advertising poster or image on the billboards that will conceal the site once it is demolished .
This could be an image of the approved designs for the site. Tom Haddock, head of property at the council, said the authority formally took ownership of the former cinema on Monday (May 20) and building inspections took place yesterday (May 23), which revealed a number of issues that need to be addressed.
This also applies to broken windows on the upper floors, which although not an “imminent hazard”, must be secured to “make it a safe asset” until demolition. Mr Haddock said the “self-confirmation” of the compulsory purchase of the former cinema and adjacent buildings would take place in the coming weeks, without a figure given for the compulsory sale price.
There is currently no idea how long the project delay can be shortened until a contractor is appointed and if that company decides to amend the council’s approved planning application. As it stands, the project is due to be completed by May 2027, more than a year after the money for the scheme – given to the council by the government – is due to be spent, with no indication yet of any extension agreements .
This is all down to the £25 million the council received in 2021 through the Town Deal fund, with all money due to be spent by March 2026. As well as the Galaxy Row Cinema scheme, the council is also behind schedule on a number of other schemes, with the High Street upgrade project also due to be completed outside the funding deadline – in July 2026.
Ms Throup said this is the plan that “concerns me the most”, accounting for 40 per cent of the total £10 million Town Deal. She asked to start this project earlier or divide it into phases so that it would be delivered on time.
Derbyshire County Councilor and cabinet member for clean growth and regeneration Cllr Tony King said he was also “not happy” with the delayed High Street timeline. He said he was “not happy” and wanted to see changes to at least reduce completion by a month. Ms Throup said business owners needed to be reassured about the project, saying it would “make a significant difference and revitalize the High Street and attract more visitors”.
Mr Ledger said excess funding from the Town Deal could be used as grants for storefront improvements while the project is postponed. However, Mr Haddock explained that the project only has an outline business case and not a full business case, which is due to be completed by March next year, and would involve agreed costs.
Without the agreed-upon costs, the council has no way of knowing how much money it would have to spend elsewhere – if at all, he explained. Steve Birkinshaw, the council’s head of planning and regeneration, said: “I fully understand the desire to make an impact early on, but this plan looks a lot like bulky goods. It is a big part of the plan, at £10 million, and there is a big responsibility for the government to manage that progress, and as a responsible authority the council must demonstrate that it is getting value for money.”
He explained that material costs control a large part of the budget and would be very sensitive to changes in inflation and other market impacts that could drastically affect final costs. Construction of both the Britannia Mills Bridge and the Broad Street Bridge will now not take place for competition until February 2026 due to design changes.
The Broad Street Bridge required new designs to meet restrictions around wildlife, biodiversity and the canal, including the impact on the Fox Covert Nature Reserve, leading to a month’s delay in completion. Meanwhile, following negotiations, the Britannia Mills Bridge will now be 30cm lower at 2.4 meters and have a slope of one in 1 in 12 – with a five-month delay to completion.
Cllr Curtis Howard, the council’s lead member for town centres, regeneration and planning, said: “I fully support delays if the design has to be right. I don’t want it to be sloppy, I want it to be done right.” Work to install new lighting in West Park is nearing completion by the end of the month, with most of the new street lighting now installed, while the planned events space will begin on site in August after the Long Eaton Carnival and before Bonfire evening will be completed.
The renovation of a former stable block behind the town hall is now starting and is expected to last 30 weeks, ending in December and with the aim of tenants being able to move in in January.