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Developer St Modwen said it was "thinking creatively" at ways of delivering Farnborough's prospective Vue cinema
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Doubts raised over Farnborough cinema

By Jack Sommers
February 05, 2010

A DEVELOPER has cast doubt on the prospect of Farnborough’s planned cinema ever being built as there will be too many in the area.

A cinema is part of the next planned phase of the £53 million redevelopment of Farnborough town centre, which developer KPI is obliged to build in its contract with Rushmoor Borough Council.

However, Toby Baines, chairman of developer Citygrove, which is contracted to build the Westgate development in Aldershot including a cinema, said the area was “overscreened”, with too many cinemas planned.

A Cineworld cinema is part of the proposed Westgate development in Aldershot, for which Citygrove is putting in a planning application on Monday.

A nine-screen Vue Cinema opened in Camberley in November, 2008 as part of the Atrium. A cinema has also been planned for the East Street development in Farnham.

But Mr Baines said he doubted Farnborough’s movie theatre would materialise.

KPI is a joint venture between developer St Modwen, which specialises in regeneration and Kuwaiti investment company Salhia Real.

KPI has a contract with the council to carry out all three phases of the town centre regeneration.

St Modwen discussed Mr Baines’s comments with the council before issuing a statement.

It said “thinking creatively” was part of the process of deciding how to bring a cinema to Farnborough.

The statement said: “St Modwen is currently exploring the best route to deliver a cinema in Farnborough town centre and has involved Rushmoor Borough Council in its latest thinking.

“We are looking at a variety of options that are currently being tested for both feasibility and practicality, in development terms. Good progress is being made and when these concepts have been worked up into sufficient detail to satisfy operator requirements, we expect to issue further details.

“St Modwen remains absolutely committed to Farnborough’s regeneration and we are determined to ensure our overall vision is delivered.”

Meanwhile, St Modwen has signed a deal with national retailer Shoe Zone after searching to fill the vacant stores it has built as part of the first phase of the development.

These stores were vacant when they were finished as the economic slump meant tenants did not materialise.

Shoe Zone has started fitting out its new store in the Queensmead shopping centre.

The arrival of Shoe Zone in Farnborough comes after a new Sainsbury’s and a 77-bed Travelodge, both milestones in the regeneration, opened at the end of last year.

St Modwen said the new Shoe Zone store would open later this month.

James Stockdale, development manager at St Modwen, said in a statement: “Despite the recession, national retailers continue to recognise Farnborough’s potential.

“Shoe Zone complements the mix of existing retailers well and will undoubtedly be a significant attraction for local shoppers.

“The company has been attracted by Farnborough’s retail catchment of 194,000 people and the town’s 2,400 town centre parking spaces, both great attributes for retailers looking to open new premises.”

The second phase of the town centre, which includes the cinema, will not go ahead until the vacant stores built as part of the first phase are filled.

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Was just reading local free magazine about Aldershot's cinema. Why has Farnborough been forgotten about? There is nothing at the moment to entice people into Farnborough Town Centre - it is very lacklustre with no glamour. With the addition of a cinema, there would a venue to go to in the evenings as well as the day and I'm sure more eating venues would have opened up such as there are in the Atrium Camberley. I feel Farnborough is dying a slow death. I have children who are almost teenagers and there is not much to interest them in the town centre, my son was really looking forward to having a cinema nearby that he could walk to but this now looks unlikely to happen. Its very disappointing that it may not happen but not surprising, Farnborough always seem to be bottom of the list and yet it has a large population and huge potential.

MC125, farnborough, hants
15/07/2010 at 16:22

Again Farnborough are possibly not getting what was promised, we've only been waiting a good 10 years since the 1st promise, why should residents of Farnborough always be the ones who lose out and have to travel miles to other town for this luxury. Farnborough needs could places for entertainment, restaurants and good shops (not always cheap shops) to atract people from other towns.

wendywoo
25/02/2010 at 08:45

It is sad to hear that there are doubts over the completion of this project , however with all of the plans being submitted in other towns in the area , anybody that has lived here long enough will know that the weight of history leaves Farnborough languishing at the very bottom when these towns go head to head . Rushmoor has never identified the cultural needs of Farnborough . Sadly , incompetence and misplaced concerns about the redevelopment of Farnborough handed back the leading position that we had ten years ago in the race for a new cinema , allowing Camberley to jump in . This has in effect destroyed the dream as geographically Aldershot would now be a more sensible location . In my opinion we should push for a more flexible arts facility on the proposed site of the cinema . Perhaps a theatre , performance rooms and yes still a cinema screen or maybe two . This gaping whole in the local facilities is all too obvious . Going forward , Farnborough sits at the centre of a fast growing conurbation and has enormous potential thanks to its transport links and central position , but it will take a leap of faith for the town to realise it's potential and I just hope that current investors have got the nerve , I doubt it ..... Please prove me wrong

simon good, Farnborough
16/02/2010 at 12:04

How do those who live in Farnborough think that those in Aldershot feel - we have had promises of a cinema in Aldershot for over 9 years now - still not build just talking about.

Aldershot Born
15/02/2010 at 23:35

i agree with dark wolf. from farnborough for me it would cost me £7.50 ta get ta camberly and my mates £6.50. its rediculous and i think we still need cinema in farnborough town definatly your have teenagers in there all the time as then they wouldnt have to go as far as camberley and my family would defianatly go there as we find most of the vue cinemas have the comfotable seats

Sally Rover, Farnborough
14/02/2010 at 09:45

I have always lived in farnborough, now im my 40`s am still waiting to be able to go to the cinema here ! Fed up hearing all these FALSE promises , cinema was supposed to be open by now....Surely building it will help to fill these empty shops ?...or are they going to be boarded up like the old shops they replaced!!!! Also unimpressed with the new development in town centre so far. Sainsburys where i shop is okay but hard to find , several people who i work with, who live outside of farnborough, when they visited , did not know it was there ! Why don`t Sainsburys use one of the new spare units to `link it` to Queensmead by poundland (if you want a few goods and dont require the carpark) that would help fill one! Why didn`t they use there imagination and create a town square to give the centre a focus point with seating/trees/fountain/grass/bandstand? a lost opportunity.

A B , farnborough
12/02/2010 at 18:30

There will be no cinema in Farnborough. I t just won't happen.

Its Douglas
12/02/2010 at 01:49

Why doesn't the council admit it's not going to happen.

Its Douglas
12/02/2010 at 00:50

I think the developer Citygrove is hoping Farnborough cinema doesn't get built so that they have more chance of the Aldershot cinema application being granted. Whoever gets in first will likely prosper. If St Modwens doesn't pull it's fingers out and they build Aldershot cinema and Farnham cinema too then they might find it hard to keep hold of Vue cinema's interest in Farnborough. I just hope that Farnborough council will put it's foot down and hold St Modwens to it's contract of building the cinema and has the balls to threaten it with demolition of Sainsburys in breach of contract of not completing all phases. Unfortunately it looks like SDt Modwens has a get out clause in not having to start the cinema build until the new retail is fully occupied which judging by the amount of free retail property in the town might never happen.

neillysane, Farnborough
11/02/2010 at 15:23

A trip to the cinema is so expensive is there any point in having a cinema in every town? having been to the Vue cinema in Camberley a few times with my children, it's not something I would make a point of doing very often. I don't think many families can afford to spend £40+ on an hour and a half of entertainment and don't even get me started on the cost of the food!!!!!!!

aldershotgal, Aldershot
11/02/2010 at 13:57

I have a huge lcd tv and excellent surround sound, I can download all the latest films usually, sit and have a beer and a smoke in the comfort of my own home, you can't do this at any cinema I know of so they hold no appeal to me and I have not been to one for years.

werf44
7/02/2010 at 10:39

With poor & expensive public transport, I think there should be a cinema in every town. it will encourage more in town use, lessen travelling to other town therefore help encorouge reducing CO2 & not everyone has thier own transport. which means by the time you pay for getting there & back, your costs to visit the cinema is doubled. That is of course if you can get a bus home?