A church that wanted to turn a former Crystal Palace bingo hall in to a place or worship has announced it will not lodge an appeal against a council decision to refuse its planning application.

Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) confirmed today in a statement it would not be challenging Bromley Council's decision to refuse the change from D2 community use because it does not want to be seen as "fighting" the very community it wanted to serve.

Its statement read: "Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) is now able to confirm it will not be lodging an appeal against the planning decision taken on December 17, 2009, regarding 25, Church Road, Crystal Palace.

"Contrary to recent press speculation, KICC’s planning consultants had advised that KICC stood a very good chance of lodging a successful appeal. However, KICC does not wish to be seen as “fighting” the very community that it wishes to serve.

"It was always in KICC’s plans for the building to have a large element of community use in any seven days (as anyone who has studied the original planning application can verify); the church is now considering a variety of building use options that will most benefit the whole community."

The news will interest the thousands of community campaigners who have been fighting for the building to be turned back in to a cinema.

The church said it would be releasing a fuller statement in due course in terms of its plans for the building, which it was still deciding, and would consult with the community over the plans.

A KICC spokesman said: "The use will be in line with its current community use as stipulated by D2 planning use."

He said KICC would look to use it as a cinema showing family films as well as offer it for use for amateur threatre groups to put on plays, and for concerts, including Christian music.

He remained tight-lipped over how extensively it would be used by KICC for its activities.