Hertsmere Borough Council and REEL Cinemas have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a major step forward in plans for a new cinema as part of the ongoing regeneration of Borehamwood High Street and surrounding areas.
The agreement will enable continued dialogue between Hertsmere Borough Council and REEL Cinemas to progress with the proposed plans, which will incorporate a multi-screen cinema, forming a part of a new leisure quarter in central Borehamwood. This will create a vibrant destination for residents, visitors and businesses, supporting the wider regeneration of the town centre.
Councillor Jeremy Newmark, Leader of the council, said:
“This is fantastic news for Borehamwood and one of the first outcomes of our major town centre regeneration investment.
“A new, state-of-the-art multiplex premium format cinema run by REEL at the heart of the town’s planned new leisure quarter will be a game-changer. Together with the new Immersive Experience it will continue to shape Borehamwood as an emerging screen tourism destination.
“In the meantime we will be working with our valued partners at Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council and REEL to sustain the operation of the current cinema site after our initial support package comes to an end later this year”.
Sunil Suri, Director of REEL Cinemas, said:
“Borehamwood has been part of the REEL story since 2003, and we are proud to be its cinema in a town with an extraordinary film legacy. We are grateful for the close working relationship we have built with Hertsmere Borough Council, and this agreement is the next step in it.
“Our aim is simple: to give Borehamwood a cinema it can be proud of, one that is part of the community and of the area’s rich film heritage. We will do everything we can to make that happen.”
The proposal will form part of the relevant development plan and will be subject to the submission and granting of planning permission.
REEL’s existing cinema at The Point will continue to operate as normal while the plans are developed.