Demolition is finally underway in the redevelopment of the site of the old Wanstead Kinema after planning was approved last month.

The plans are for two four-storey blocks, one behind the other, containing eight flats and a restaurant on what used to be the site of a cinema in High Street, Wanstead.

It catered for more than 500 movie-goers at a time, but closed in 1956 before being used as a bingo club, snooker hall and most recently a Vietnamese restaurant which closed in December last year.

Five unsuccessful attempts have been made since 2010 to win permission for the building’s redevelopment, but all have been rejected for being out of keeping with the High Street.

Members of Wanstead Society and Conservative councillor Christopher Cummins of the Snaresbrook ward both spoke of their reservations with the demolition due to it being one of the first buildings in the High Street.

But in late-July, planning permission was granted by Redbridge council.

Platform Five Architects states on its website that it has designed the build to be in keeping with the High Street.

It says: “Located at the centre of Wanstead Village next to the prominent Jacobean style George Hotel, the development will retain the ground floor restaurant use across the full depth of the site, creating a podium for three townhouses and five apartments on the upper levels, arranged round a communal courtyard garden.

“The building has been carefully crafted to fit into its sensitive context and echoes the vernacular building forms in order to maintain the village character of the street.”