A former historic Grade II listed Mecca Bingo club has been placed on the “at risk” register after being left empty in the last 3 years. The famous club in Islington was operated by Mecca Bingo up until March 2007.

The new owners of the site, Evangelical Church Resurrection Manifestations, had made promises to restore the building to its former glory however reports suggests that no work has taken place to date and the owners are blaming Islington Council for holding out on planning permission.

The site has now been placed on a risk register after the English Heritage become increasingly concerned. Acting regional director for London, Nigel Barker commented: "Something has got to happen. This is a very important building and certainly one of the greatest assets in the area."

English Heritage has suggested that if no work happens then the council could take action to force the church to see the site.

Mr Barker added: "The building has been empty for some years and it's deteriorating - particularly the interior.

"When the church first came up with their approach, we were reasonably comfortable because they said they would let the community in and because the building wasn't going to require many alterations.

"But we have had no clarity yet as to when they are going to do something and what the delay is. All we know is that there is no clear way forward.

"Something has got to happen. This is a very important building and one of the greatest assets in the area.

The Egyptian –style designs were thanks to architect George Coles, and the building was first opened as Carlton Cinema in September 1930. In 1972 it ceased trading, closing its doors as a cinema and was subsequently converted to a bingo club. Just prior to the smoking ban, Mecca decided to close the club and six months later the Christian group purchased the site in September 2007, for a reported £5 million. The company has plans to return the building to its formers glory to include a church, conference centre and community venue. In addition a seven story block of 44 flats would be built on the site behind the building. It was claimed that the project would cost around £18 million.

The council has granted permission in respect of converting the bingo club into a church and community venue, however it has failed to make a decision in respect of the flats, which the owner claim are a necessity to finance the other works. Resurrection Manifestations did not submit the application until May 2009, nearly 2 years after purchasing the site and therefore they cannot lay the blame fully on delays by Islington Council.

A spokesperson for the company commented: "We could go in tomorrow and convert it into a church. We have got enough funds for that. But we need the flats to fund the community project. By the council's own rules, there is a time limit by which they have to give us a response. It's gone way over that. It's now going to an appeal hearing. The building has been lying derelict all this time. We are eager to put it to use."

Meanwhile, English Heritage says that if no work happens, Islington Council could force the church to sell the building - although this process could take two years.

Mr Barker said: "The building has been empty for some years and it's deteriorating - particularly the interior.

"When the church first came up with their approach, we were reasonably comfortable because they said they would let the community in and because the building wasn't going to require many alterations.

"But we have had no clarity yet as to when they are going to do something and what the delay is. All we know is that there is no clear way forward.

"Something has got to happen. This is a very important building and one of the greatest assets in the area.

The annual Heritage at Risk Register, published 7 July 2010, by English Heritage, contains details of the condition of grade I, and ll listed buildings, monuments, parks and gardens, battlefields and conservation areas at risk in London. First compiled in 2008 following the success of the Building at Risk Register (first published in London in 1991), the Heritage At Risk Register is the only comprehensive catalogue of its type – identifying which heritage assets are at risk from development pressure, neglect or decay.