AN injunction has been issued to stop the owners of the historic and protected former Regal Cinema in Uxbridge from doing any further building work. 

The order, which will last 12 months, was granted against Frough Limited, its company director and London Empire Hotel Limited, during a hearing at the High Court. 

Hillingdon Council began an investigation in November this year, following reports that unauthorised works were taking place in the Grade II* Listed building in the High Street. 

On visiting the site, the planning enforcement team found extensive upgrading and alteration works was being carried out, with rubble and materials being removed.

This was all happening without Listed Building Consent. 

Grade II* Listing is the second-highest level of protection for buildings of high architectural or historic merit.

With this status comes rigorous and strict planning restrictions, and consent had not been sought or granted to work outside these limitations. 

Hillingdon issued a ‘temporary stop notice’ requiring all work on the land to cease until the High Court hearing, when an interim injunction was granted restricting further works on the site. 

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Residents Services, said: “The Regal Cinema building is an architectural gem in Uxbridge High Street and it’s an imperative for us to protect the borough’s historical and cultural assets as robustly as possible. 

“We’re duty bound to preserve such assets for future generations. They tell the story of our borough in a way books and pictures can’t match, so this is a brilliant result for residents.”  

The council’s conservation team is working with Historic England to assess any damage and repair works needed. 

The Regal is considered to be the finest surviving work of the noted cinema architect Eric Norman Bailey.

First listed by Historic England as the Discotheque Royale in 1976, it operated as a nightclub from 1984 until March 2020.

 

A RUISLIP car dealer who parked unroadworthy vehicles on the road and others in public parking bays, blocking them from use, has been ordered to pay more than £2,300 after breaching a Community Protection Notice seven times.  

The case against Manazer Shah, of Long Drive, was brought by Hillingdon Council and proven in his absence at Ealing Magistrates Court.