A £100m cinema scheme in Ealing is due to go ahead after a compulsory purchase order (CPO) was granted to buy the land.

The west London council was told the Secretary of State has confirmed the CPO.

Land Securities' Ealing Filmworks cinema scheme is to include an eight-screen, 1000-seat cinema, restaurants, shops and homes.

The CPO area includes the site of the former Empire Cinema which closed in 2008, a neighbouring office building, bar and other properties on the boundary of the site.

The council chose Land Securities to develop the site in 2013.

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Construction is expected to begin in late 2016, with the cinema opening in 2018.

Council Leader Julian Bell said: "Bringing a cinema back to Ealing is the news that everyone has been waiting for. It is a fantastic opportunity that will see a large part of Ealing town centre revitalised with a vibrant cultural quarter, more jobs, new homes and more visitors.

"We were determined to breathe new life back into the site of the former cinema which has been derelict for far too long."

Land Securities Development Director Jonathan Levy, said: "We welcome the Secretary of State's decision to confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order for the former Ealing cinema site and surrounding land, enabling Ealing Council to use its powers to acquire the land needed to deliver Ealing Filmworks and bring the long-awaited cinema back to Ealing. 

"The decision is crucial in allowing us to deliver a comprehensive film quarter that connects Walpole Park with Bond Street and Ealing Broadway, creating a new public square, new shops, restaurants, homes and new jobs in Ealing town centre."

(LM/MH)