Labour Councillor Ginnie Lambert has pledged to do everything possible to protect Southampton’s much-loved Harbour Lights Picturehouse Cinema after concerns emerged over its future as part of proposals outlined in the Ocean Village Masterplan.
Following the recent public consultation by MDL Marinas and Yattendon Group, which own the freehold of much of Ocean Village, Councillor Lambert brought a motion before Southampton City Council calling for the cinema to be safeguarded as an essential part of the city’s cultural life.
While the draft masterplan makes clear that it is a long-term vision for the next 20 to 30 years and not a planning application, it identifies the Harbour Lights site as having redevelopment potential over the lifetime of the plan. The consultation prompted widespread concern among residents, cinema-goers and local businesses who fear Southampton could lose one of its most distinctive cultural venues. The masterplan also states that no decisions have been taken and that any future proposals would require separate planning applications and consultation.
Councillor Ginnie Lambert said:
“Harbour Lights is far more than just a cinema. It is a cultural landmark, a community space and one of the few places in Southampton where people can enjoy independent, international and classic films alongside mainstream releases.
“Ocean Village should absolutely continue to evolve and thrive, but regeneration must not come at the cost of the places that give our city its identity. We can build for the future while protecting the venues that people love.
“That’s why I brought this motion to Full Council. We need to send a clear message that Southampton values its cultural assets just as much as new homes and commercial development.”
Highlighting the unique design and lasting legacy of the building, Burrell Foley Fischer (BFF) Architects said:
“Harbour Lights was conceived as far more than a cinema. Designed specifically for its waterfront setting, the building celebrates Southampton’s maritime heritage while creating an open, welcoming public destination. It was deliberately designed as the antithesis of the inward-looking multiplex: a building that connects people with the city, the waterfront, and one another, making the experience of going to the cinema part of the architecture itself.
The continued success of Harbour Lights over the past three decades demonstrates the enduring value of that vision. We are therefore deeply concerned that the current masterplanning proposals could lead to the loss of this important building.”
Councillor Lambert’s motion received strong support from councillors across the chamber and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to doing everything within its powers to help secure the future of Harbour Lights in its current home.
Labour councillors say the cinema’s current offering and location plays a unique role in Southampton’s cultural economy, attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and providing a venue for film festivals, independent cinema, community events and educational screenings.
Councillor Lambert added:
“Cities succeed when they are places where people want to spend time, not simply places to live. Harbour Lights helps make Southampton an attractive, vibrant waterfront destination. Losing it in its current role and current location would be a huge blow to our city’s cultural offer.
“I will continue working with residents, the cinema, community organisations and all interested parties to ensure Harbour Lights remains part of Ocean Village for generations to come.”
The Ocean Village Masterplan describes an ambition to create a thriving, sustainable waterfront quarter over the coming decades through coordinated regeneration. Labour councillors believe that ambition should include protecting established cultural institutions that contribute to Southampton’s character and identity.