MSCP demolition, clearance and site landscaping
Spring 2024 - Winter 2024
The Lichfield City Centre Cinema Development is one of the District Council’s flagship regeneration projects. The former Debenhams building at Three Spires Shopping Centre is being transformed into a new Everyman cinema alongside food, drink and social spaces.
The development represents an important step in our long-term vision to create a thriving, modern city centre that complements Lichfield’s rich heritage.
By introducing new leisure and hospitality opportunities, the scheme will:
We are committed to keeping residents, businesses and stakeholders updated as the development moves forward.
Works continue to progress on the redevelopment of the former Debenhams building into Lichfield’s new Everyman Cinema and leisure destination. Current activity includes:
Construction programmes may change as works progress. Further updates will be shared as key milestones are reached.
Spring 2024 - Winter 2024
Winter 2024 - Summer 2025
Summer 2025 - Autumn 2025
Autumn 2025 - Winter 2025
Spring 2025 - Summer 2026
Summer 2026 - Autumn 2026
The redevelopment of the former Debenhams building is a key part of Lichfield District Council’s wider plans to regenerate the city centre.
The project will bring a long-vacant prominent building back into use and create a new leisure destination for residents and visitors. Anchored by an Everyman Cinema and supported by food and drink businesses, the development is expected to increase footfall, encourage people to spend longer in the city centre and support local businesses.
It will also help strengthen Lichfield’s leisure and hospitality offer, creating a more vibrant destination to visit, work and invest in.
The project is being delivered through a joint venture between Lichfield District Council and Evolve Estates, the owner of Three Spires Shopping Centre.
The Council originally approved an investment of £5.349 million from its capital programme, with Evolve Estates investing on a 50:50 basis. The partnership was established to bring the former Debenhams building back into use as a cinema and leisure destination.
In July 2026, Full Council also approved a further £5.56 million investment. This included £2.84 million towards completing the redevelopment and £2.72 million to enable the Council to secure full ownership of the completed development.
Securing full ownership means the Council will retain 100% of the rental income from the completed development, strengthening its asset base and providing a potential long-term income stream for the Council.
As construction progressed, additional costs arose due to market conditions, design development and the complexity of converting the former department store into a modern leisure destination.
In July 2026, councillors approved an additional £5.56 million investment. Of this, £2.84 million is required to complete the redevelopment, while £2.72 million enables the Council to secure full ownership of the completed development.
The additional investment allows the project to continue to completion while giving the Council greater control over the future of the asset and enabling it to retain 100% of the rental income generated by the development.
Construction is expected to be completed by December 2026. Once the building work is complete, Everyman and the other occupiers will carry out their own fit-outs. The Everyman Cinema is currently expected to open in 2027. A specific opening date will be confirmed by Everyman closer to opening.
The former Debenhams building is being transformed into a new leisure destination centred around an Everyman Cinema.
The scheme will include a four-screen cinema alongside complementary food and drink businesses. The wider project also includes the creation of a new public plaza outside the cinema, providing an attractive open-air space for people to meet, relax and enjoy before or after visiting the cinema and surrounding businesses.
The development forms part of the wider regeneration of the Birmingham Road area and is intended to create a more vibrant gateway into Lichfield city centre.
The Birmingham Road multi-storey car park was demolished to make way for the redevelopment of the area and to create the new public space and connections around the cinema. The car park had been in operation for more than 50 years and had undergone extensive repairs and maintenance. However, monitoring showed that it was significantly underused, operating at an average of just 26% capacity over the preceding 12 months. A wider review also found that Lichfield city centre had sufficient alternative parking provision.
Removing the car park has allowed the area to be opened up and connected with Three Spires Shopping Centre, creating space for the new cinema plaza and supporting the wider regeneration of the Birmingham Road site. More than 99% of the materials from the demolished car park were recycled, including concrete and brick hardcore which was crushed for reuse as recycled aggregate.
The latest updates on the development will be shared on this website as the project progresses.
You can also find wider updates and information on the Lichfield District Council website and the Council’s social media channels.
Lichfield District Council is committed to keeping residents informed as the development progresses.
Monday to Friday 7:30am – 5:30pm
For urgent site-related matters outside normal working hours, please contact Frank Walsh on 07789 014423. Where there is an immediate risk to life or property, please call 999.