by Vicky Halliday
I have been putting this article off for weeks, as it is a topic close to my heart and I knew it would upset and/or annoy me putting it into words.
Opening its doors as the Odeon in December 1936, it was the most expensive and largest Odeon cinema built that year and provided seating for 1824. It underwent various refurbs over the years and became a 4 screen cinema in 1990 but could not compete with the nearby UCI at Port Solent (now an Odeon itself) and finally Vue at Gunwharf.
The building was sold in 2007 with a special clause that it not be used as a cinema but the final show was in January 2008. Since then, OJ’s Discount Store has been housed in the lobby, under the Art Deco tower, but the remainder of the building has been unused.
A request for protection was turned down by English Heritage and in April 2009 permission was granted by Portsmouth City Council for 54 flats to be built on the site. One has to wonder where the people occupying these flats will work, go to school and shop! Surely, what Portsmouth doesn’t need is yet another development of 1-bed flats? We are likely to sink under the sheer weight of them.
The Art Deco tower will be ripped down, in favour of a characterless apartment complex. Yet another building in Portsmouth to have survived the relentless bombing in 1941 but fall at the hands of an irresponsible freeholder. There follows a series of photos taken of the inside of the Odeon in January of this year and they have been used with the kind permission of those at 28 Days Later. One of the most striking things is that the lights remain on, 2 years after the cinema closing!
Please bear in mind that this cinema only closed its doors in January 2008 and was left to rot (with a little help) until there was nothing left to do except tear it down. In 24 months, the cinema became flooded(?) with putrid water and is, sadly, beyond repair. Such neglect makes me sick to my stomach and I am disgusted that, yet again, we are to be left without one of Portsmouth’s historic landmarks. I am appalled that there was no way of keeping the iconic Art Deco tower. If flats MUST be built, then let them be built behind it – there is separate road access at the side!
I am dedicating this article to the Save Our Odeon campaign in Bradford. Following a catalogue of underhanded activities (bordering on the illegal) the council has seen fit to grant planning for a glass monstrosity to replace the UK’s only remaining Art Deco super cinema. It was previously a celebrated music venue and hosted The Beatles’ first date of their first ever tour. We may not be able to save our own Odeon, but I’m damned if I’m letting another one be destroyed! Please lend your voice to the Bradford campaign: www.saveourodeon.com but do not for one minute think that I am finished campaigning for North End!
I sympathise with your viewpoint, but thought I’d post a couple of alternative points based on my professional viewpoint of working in development / buildings.
1. Ref your comments “What Portsmouth doesn’t need is another development of 1 bedroomed flats.” Research by the National Housing federation shows that there is actually a shortage of housing in this area. In particular affordable, sustainable housing. I would suggest Portsmouth does need more such developments. What (I’m pretty sure) everyone would like to see is a high level of quality in the design of that development.
2. Buildings are of course not just functional buildings. They are (at best) works of art that people attach emotion and beliefs in. However all buildings are built to a certain design lifespan. The Odeon has long since been in old age. Economically it doesn’t work, functionally there are far better models (the Vue for example whilst not being aesthetically in any way pleasing has a design form that is far superior for a modern day cinema goer than the Odeon building) and it is certainly not sustainable in any way. Yes it is sad that buildings such as this are left to neglect, but there are very few who are going to throw money at something that is already dead.
Studies have also shown that houses or multiple occupancy accommodation is needed, not one-bedroomed flats. I am not against progress at all, quite the opposite but if you are to address the housing need then you should focus on those that need it – families. My main concern is not that the whole building be taken down, but more so that the tower be taken down when there is an argument that his could be retained and any apartments or housing be built behind it – where there is sufficient side access. Portsmouth does not need any more one bedroom accommodation when the existing stock of this has not been let or sold. Even you must agree with this. Councils are able to claim council tax for empty properties (not 100% admittedly, but 50% for empty flats is surely a money-spinning plan at its best – so it is in their best interest to have as many one bedroom places as possible, despite this not being what is required)
My second point of this is the abysmal management of this building and purposeful neglect. There is absolutely no excuse for the way this building has deteriorated so rapidly, even a monsoon for 2 solid years could not cause as much damage as is evident internally. I would not wish it to be used as a cinema again and it was, in fact, sold on the understanding that it not be used for this purpose. I am concerned at the lack of historic buildings in Portsmouth today and the disregard for preserving what we do have.
I have done my research for this, trust me, and I feel you may have missed my point!
Interesting points, particularly about the Council tax issue – would be interested to speak to those who write the planning policies to see if income generation through Council tax is something they consider when deciding what their housing policies will be. PCC’s current core strategy (which I believe hasn’t been adopted yet) is only suggesting residential development above 10 units should have a min of 40% with 3 or more bedrooms and these should be provided as houses, but it will depend on the character area assessment. This still leaves a potential 60% as 1 and 2 bed in any new development.
I understand that you are concerned at the lack of historic buildings (although we have over 400 of the things in the statutory list and a number of ancient monuments, so i’m not entirely sure if ‘lack’ is the right word) – and understand that you are concerned about the disregard for preserving what we do have. I guess the important underlying question is why are you concerned ? (Apologies if you’ve explained this elsewhere, I haven’t read all the other posts)
The development replacing the Odeon would consist of 54 one bedroom apartments and only three townhouses. Between my house and yours, there are currently 54 empty new-build properties with one bedroom, which begs the question – why build more? Supply and demand is the obvious answer but there is clearly not the demand so surely the supply should reflect this.
As for my particular interest, I have been obsessed with old buildings for many years and keep a close eye on planning applications, particularly around the area in which I live. The demolition of the Odeon could set a precedent for other buildings in the locality, thus making North End even more depressing than it is already. With The Regal Palace and Enska on increasingly shaky ground, it is important that we retain what we can whilst we still can. My question to you is why are you not concerned? If enough people paid attention to what happened in their city then we have a slim chance of having a few buildings that are not identical.
In addition, I have not forgotten what happened to the ABC site in Commercial Road. This was wrenched down to make way for a development which didn’t happen. Who is to say that the same won’t happen in this case? Then North End will be stuck with a hole in the ground, surrounded by ugly boards, for years on end and a building has been demolished for no reason. The “demolish now, think about where to get money for the development” way of operating is all too common. Look at Victoria Swimming Baths – that is in the process of being torn down to make way for Uni offices and Student Accommodation, when the final funding has yet to be decided – a bit presumptive! (I will be doing a piece on this soon and have been out photographing at various stages of demolition)
My goal with this series of articles is not to flog a dead horse and revive Portsmouth’s cinematic/theatrical heritage. I merely wish to illustrate what we have already lost – whether it be thanks to bombing, fire damage, licencing issues, recession or lack of demand. And if there is any way that we can keep any building in Portsmouth that has a bit of character and history, then why should we not try? The King’s Theatre has been threatened on numerous occasions, that is a landmark in Southsea and it would be catastrophic if it went, this is the same argument and if it were to be threatened again, I would fight to save that too (as would you I would imagine!)
Why am I not concerned ?
For some buildings I may be (although like 99.9% of the population I’m not concerned enough to actively engage with the planning process / consultation ) – for me it’s not a case of a black and white view of ‘retain what we can whilst we still can.’ It depends on a whole variety of factors. My belief is generally more ‘retain that which is economically viable, has good functionality, and is of merit and of value.’ It is the merit and value bit that is the hard thing to quantify of course. What one person considers of merit and value, another person sees as of no use at all.
what a terrible terrible shame these buildings of character are being torn down in Portsmouth. I used to meet many a date in the Odeon
What will we be left with? No character, no history
what a shame