The former Odeon cinema building

Freedom Church has purchased a former Odeon cinema building for £1 million. The building has Site of Special Interest (SSI) status owing to its architectural and community value. The Freedom Church plans to renovate and refurbish the property for community use.

Tim Bond, one of the Pastors and spokesperson for Freedom Church Leadership team, says: "Our vision is to re-generate and transform the landmark building that will be known as Freedom Centre, returning it into a facility for use by our Island community. 

It will once again become a hive of activity, with thousands of people coming through the doors every week. It will become a Community Centre, opposite the new town park, where people can gather and connect. This is a very important step towards our goal of operating at the heart of our Island community."

In July 2011 the States of Jersey adopted the North of St Helier Masterplan, which designated the previously condemned cinema as a ‘landmark building’. 

Ben Ludlam, Group Property Director of Jersey property company, C Le Masurier Limited, says: "Many States Members, local community groups and the wider Jersey public have persistently urged Le Masurier to consider alternative uses for the building which has been incredibly difficult to achieve given the building’s SSI status and its unique nature and structure. 

“Over many years we have made every effort to do something with the building, exhausting numerous attempts to identify a viable economic use. We submitted a planning application for retail use in 2006 and operating the Odeon as the New Forumwas attempted but sadly proved unsustainable.

“We are therefore delighted that Freedom Church has come forward with a proposed use of the building, which will benefit the entire community. Le Masurier remains fully committed to substantially regenerating the area to the south of Freedom Centre and are actively engaging with the Environment Minister and the Planning Department in this respect".