FRESH plans to transform an eyesore building into a multi-million pound development with shops and apartments are set to be submitted.

The former Odeon cinema in Crouch Street was snapped up by BluMarble Properties, who intend to spend £10million to £14million creating around 40 new apartments.

Two or three new shops could also be created at the front, and the original Art Deco facade will be preserved.

The company has been in talks with the planning department at Colchester Council for the last year to come up with the most suitable layout and hope to submit their plans in the next few weeks.

BluMarble is yet to decide whether the block at the rear of the 30,000sq ft site - which previously housed the cinema screens - will be knocked down or retained.

Matt Ellis, director at BluMarble Properties, said: “In the next few weeks we should be in a position to say yes, this is what we are putting into planning.

“We have to retain the facade - we are happy to do that because it’s a lovely building, it’s just its current state that lets it down.

“The main thing is the block at the back. We are still trying to work out the best and most intelligent way to progress with that.

“It could mean retaining the existing building or starting again. It won’t be any bigger or smaller than what is there now.”

Mr Ellis confirmed BluMarble had started working on plans with former owner, Ross Carroll, before buying the site just over a year ago.

Mr Carroll owned the building since 2012 and, at first, planned to transform it into a 96-bed hotel and 40 homes.

In 2014, he submitted plans for three shops and seven apartments, along with a four-storey block of 36 apartments on land behind the cinema.

Steve Peri, who owned the building for eight years previous to Mr Carroll, intended to turn it into a super-club, but all plans to develop the site have so far fallen flat.

Mr Ellis said: “We just want to get on with things and are close to formalising an agreement.

“We are constantly boarding up areas where kids have tried to break in.

“A lot of people are in support of doing something with this building. It’s the only building that lets down the entire street.

“It’s an important part of the town centre and we want everyone locally to be happy.”

The cinema building has been empty since 2002 when Odeon moved to its current Head Street premises.

A Colchester Council spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have received a planning application from BluMarble Properties and have been negotiating with its Colchester agents, Robert Pomery and Stanley Brag Architects, on ways forward to deliver a viable scheme of conversion and redevelopment for the building.”

Click here to see what the derelict building looks like inside.

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