Cinema, cultural hub and climbing wall headed for Hayes site
Regeneration specialist U+I has secured two independent retail and leisure occupiers for The Old Vinyl Factory, its regeneration development in Hayes, west London, which was once the site of the EMI factory.
Really Local Group has signed a deal to provide a three-screen boutique cinema in the former Pressing Plant building on the site, as well as a live music venue, community spaces, a café and bar and an EMI exhibition space. Under the deal, U+I will sell the Pressing Plant to RLG who will complete the transformation of the building into a new cultural hub, called The Gramophone, in 2021.
Additionally, The Nest, a start-up operator of indoor climbing and bouldering walls, has taken a 5,000 sq ft double-height space with a mezzanine in the ground floor unit of The Material Store, a 189-home build to rent building operated by Fizzy Living.
U+I secured planning permission for the transformation of the Pressing Plant into a cultural venue in 2017. The plans will see the locally-listed façade retained and the building refurbished and extended.
Rebecca Selby, senior development manager at U+I, said: “We are very excited to welcome these two fantastic businesses to The Old Vinyl Factory. Not only do we want to support new and interesting businesses but we want the people who live and work in this new part of London to be excited about their neighbourhood and what it has to offer. These businesses will add to the buzz at The Old Vinyl Factory and we can’t wait for them to open their doors.”
Preston Benson, founder, Really Local Group, added: “We have partnered with the Greater London Authority on this project, and are honoured to be supported by the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, which supports growth and community development in London.”
