The future of a community cinema in Oxford could be determined by an individual holding two significant positions in the city’s academic and heritage sectors.
Lord Neil Mendoza serves simultaneously as provost of Oriel College and as chairman of Historic England, the governmental body responsible for evaluating and advising local authorities on matters concerning historic structures.
Historic England functions as the statutory adviser to the government and local planning authorities on England’s historic environment.
The organisation investigates buildings, assesses their historical significance and provides recommendations regarding their protection status.
Oriel College acquired the property housing The Ultimate Picture Palace on Jeune Street approximately five years ago.
The cinema operates as a community-owned venue under a lease arrangement with the college.
A campaign titled Save the UPP was established last year with the aim of convincing Oriel College to negotiate an extension to the cinema’s current lease, which is scheduled to expire in 2037.
Reports indicated that Lord Mendoza advocated against the cinema receiving Asset of Community Value status, a designation that offers protection against redevelopment by granting community groups the right to bid for properties when they are offered for sale.
Despite these objections from the freeholder, Oxford City Council successfully granted The Ultimate Picture Palace ACV status.
This designation supplements the venue’s existing Grade II listing, which was awarded three decades ago.
The college submitted formal objections to the ACV application submitted by the local authority.
Observers at the time questioned why the chairman of Historic England would oppose protections for what some consider a heritage asset.
Oriel College has maintained that it continues to honour the terms of the 2022 lease renewal agreement, which provides the cinema operator with security of occupation at the Jeune Street premises through 2037.
The 15-year lease agreement also incorporates a break clause permitting the tenant to terminate the arrangement at their discretion.