Work on a groundbreaking scheme to create a cinema plaza in Lichfield will begin at the end of the month with the closing of a multi-storey car park.
The Birmingham Road multi-storey will close at midnight on Monday, 27 May ready for demolition, and subsequent landscaping, to begin the following day.
The work, conducted by specialist contractor Cawarden, will take place over 26 weeks.
Four units at the top of Three Spires Shopping Centre are also being knocked down and, together, the two demolition projects will create access for work to start on building a vibrant, open-air public space in front of the cinema.
Lichfield District Council announced cinema operator Everyman Cinemas as a confirmed tenant for the former Debenhams building in February and recently approved a strategic investment of £1.7 million to bring national cocktail bar and restaurant chain The Botanist to the development.
Councillor Andy Smith, the district council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Major Projects, said: “I am very excited that the plans to redevelop this part of the city centre are now being put into action, and we have visible evidence of progress with the demolition of the multi storey car park.
“Cawarden, our demolition contractors will be installing hoardings around the site to keep the space safe and tidy and will be installing peep holes for you, your children and even your dog to look through and see the work taking place.
“Removing this structure will allow us to transform the area, creating a vibrant hub for leisure activities to be enjoyed by the district’s residents and visitors alike.”
The former multi-storey car park site will be used as a space for temporary activities while the area is developed. It will host one-off and pop-up retail and food events with priority given to local start-ups and businesses from across the district.
Birmingham Road Car Park has been operational for more than 50 years and has undergone extensive repairs and maintenance to expand its lifespan. But the council says user monitoring data collated last June revealed that the car park is underutilised and had operated at an average of only 26 per cent over the preceding 12 months.
More information on the development can be found here.
