A community campaign to see a former bingo hall in Crystal Palace turned back in to a cinema has been given a boost after the site’s owners decided not to convert it in to a church.

Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) confirmed on Thursday it would not be challenging Bromley Council's decision in December to refuse its planning application for the building in Church Road.

The venue will now stay with a D2 planning classification, which only permits community use.

KICC said it believed it had a good chance of winning an appeal but decided against it because it did not want to be seen as “fighting” the very community it wanted to serve.

Its spokesman said: “The church is now considering a variety of building use options that will most benefit the whole community."

He said KICC would look to use it as a cinema showing family films as well as offer it to amateur theatre 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.

The Picture Palace Campaign (PPC) welcomed the news. The group’s petition to see the hall turned back into a cinema, following news KICC outbid independent cinema chain City Screen to buy the bingo hall last summer, received 7,000 local signatures, a 6,000-strong Facebook group, and celebrity backing, PPC spokeswoman Annabel Sidney said: “We now expect KICC to follow up on this commitment by entering into meaningful dialogue that will lead to action reflecting the interests and concerns of the whole community, rather than a particular group.

“We hope KICC will respect the fact that the building’s D2 classification will only allow for permissible uses such as a cinema, concert hall, bingo hall or casino, or dance hall.

“Our ambition to develop a professionally-run cinema to provide a sorely-needed cultural resource for the whole community is shared by others.

“The UK’s leading independent cinema provider has confirmed interest in the site and we would hope KICC will enter into discussions with it.”

KICC’s former planning agent revealed last month he expected KICC not to appeal the decision.