Is this the end for The Point?

It looks like it could be the end for The Point in Milton Keynes after the developer Galliard Holdings won it's planning permission appeal to demolish the iconic pyramid.

Last week the Planning Inspectorate approved developer Galliard Holdings’ appeal to demolish The Point—Milton Keynes’ now-derelict red‑framed pyramid that once housed the city’s first multiplex cinema—and replace it with 487 flats, including blocks reaching up to 21 storeys.

Built in November 1985, The Point quickly became a familiar fixture on Midsummer Boulevard, featuring ten screens, a bingo hall, nightclub and restaurants. It drew over one million visitors during its first year. But the opening of Xscape in 2000 triggered a steady decline, and by 2015 the final film—Kingsman: The Secret Service—marked its closure.

Despite its cultural resonance, the Planning Inspector ruled that the building had “outlived its purpose” and that any harm to the city’s heritage would be minimal, ultimately awarding Galliard permission to proceed.

Within hours of the verdict, Labour leader of Milton Keynes City Council, Cllr Peter Marland, confirmed the council would seek legal advice on whether the Inspector’s decision contained legal flaws. He described aspects of the appeal ruling as “irrational,” and criticised the lack of affordable housing provision and public‑realm contributions in the Galliard proposal. He added that the iconic pyramid, listed locally as part of New Town heritage, deserved far greater protection.

At least for now, The Point survives. But unless a court intervenes, demolition appears imminent—and with that, the loss of one of Milton Keynes’ most recognisable landmarks.

What happens next?

• Galliard Holdings says they’re “delighted” with the outcome and promise a “dynamic mixed‑use destination” including a rooftop bar, cinema and sports facilities—though the current plan includes no affordable homes 

• The council is weighing legal action, hoping to overturn the appeal on procedural or legal grounds 

• Locals remain conflicted: many mourn the memory of The Point, while others welcome new housing in the city centre.

Over to you: Should The Point be preserved as a heritage site—and if so, how should it be redeveloped to honour its legacy?