The New Olympia Cinema, Todmorden

Once a state-of-the-art venue for public entertainment, the New Olympia Cinema was recently subject to a planning application from Netto Foodstores, which would involve part-demolition of the building to make way for a new supermarket, which was to include retention of the historic Art Deco façade. Next door, the Abraham Ormerod building was to be completely demolished to make way for the new car park (despite a glowing report, from English Heritage) as the developers are only interested in making money, and they hope that the local council is only interested in the words "Section 106".

Both buildings are in a Conservation Area and protected by a number of local and national planning policies, however, since this video was originally uploaded, Netto have dropped plans to retain the façade and now seem content on constructing a brand new building that resembles a Victorian mill. Out go two rare examples of 1930s Architecture and in comes all manner of tasteless tat.

By the way, this video was recently removed, but as you can see now it's back online.

They cannot silence us...

We will never give up the fight, and in the words of Tommy Scott and Franny Griffiths "we will all be waiting when the bulldozers come"

Feel free to close the annoying advert at the bottom of the clip in order to watch the film in all its glory.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Decay
• Derelict
• Faience
• Façade
• Retention
• New
• Olympia
• Cinema
• Abraham
• Ormerod
• Medical
• Centre
• Listed
• Heritage
• Historic
• Art
• Deco
• Architecture
• Todmorden
• Lancashire
• Yorkshire
• Netto
• Asda
• Supermarket
• Calderdale
• Council
• Section
• 106
• Urban
• Explorers
• Urbex

[TODMORLANCS]

The Council appear to have decided to block Sainsbury's by sacrificing a significant part of Todmordens heritage to Asda's. Whilst I would love to see both of these predators sent packing, it's not going to happen: the supermarkets are just too powerful. Realistically, the best outcome would be the retention of the Olympia facade, but it's difficult to see how the Ormerod building can be saved.

[ButterflyRebellion1]

@TODMORLANCS It could have been saved, if the powers that be wanted to. As for the Olympia, facade retention is obviously the best outcome, but more expensive than full demolition.

Do the math.

[TODMORLANCS]

Excellent video. If Todmorden was independent of Calderdale council Im sure the historic facade would be retained. We should be proud of our architectural heritage and avoid homogeneity and pastiche like the plague. Say no to the corporations and their plans.

[ButterflyRebellion1]

@TODMORLANCS Thank you. The facade must stay and according to the local newspaper, a number of experts in building conservation have all given it the thumbs up too.

I've just seen artist impression of what the replacement "mill-esque" supermarket is to look like. It's even worse than I imagined!!

[JungleFox1000]

This builden has been there well before I was born and I have never nown anything about it thanks for this video but you forgot Neto was there after quick save

[TODMORLANCS]

Councillors are often held hostage, not only by big business, but by the philistine attitudes of electors. How could the buildings have been used? Perhaps housing, or a new "Free School", or even a new Steiner School- perhaps a bit too "Hebden Bridge" for Todmorden; any ideas?