COLCHESTER’S iconic old Odeon cinema could be demolished and reconstructed as part of new plans to turn it into dozens of apartments.

Owner Blumarble Property has unveiled fresh proposals for the Crouch Street premises, which would see the 55 apartments, two retail units and a basement car park created.

As part of the plans, the famous building would be demolished in its entirety, with a replica of the historic foyer section reconstructed and a new apartment block added.

Blumarble’s previous £10 million plans to convert the building into apartments stalled due to financial viability issues and it says demolishing the whole building and adding a fifth level of flats will get the scheme back on track.

A planning report states: “This cinema building is locally listed and the foyer building can be said to make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area.

“However, the building now is very much redundant. The building has been the subject of extensive marketing over the years and an entertainment use has not come forward.

“A mixed housing and retail use in the town centre is, of course, ideal and consistent with planning policy objectives.

“The proposals will regrettably remove the 89-year-old building, however, following comprehensive assessment of different options, the proposals represent the only available solution which will deliver a viable use of the site which will bring forward a substantial improvement to the appearance of the street.”

Gazette: How the rebuilt frontage could look once completeHow the rebuilt frontage could look once complete

The developer says the frontage would be rebuilt with “long lost features” and a “sympathetic vertical extension”.

The report adds: “The new front building will have detail put back, much of which has been lost over the years, looking back to the original design detail from 1930.”

“Such details proposed to return are reverting back to the original squared off canopy with ornamental urns on the corners.”

The old Odeon was designed by Cecil Massey and built in 1931 but has been empty since the cinema chain relocated to Head Street in 2002.

The building has been blighted by antisocial behaviour and Colchester Council has issued two section 215 orders ordering Blumarble to tidy it up.

The council will have the final say the new plans.