HISTORIC England has objected to plans to tear down Colchester’s old Odeon and replace it with 55 flats.
The organisation, which is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has criticised Bluemarble Property’s plans for the Crouch Street premises.
The developer wants permission from Colchester Council to pull down the building, including its iconic facade, which will be rebuilt to similar specifications.
The application has proved controversial, receiving objections from ward councillors, residents and the Theatres’ Trust.
Now Historic England, a statutory consultee on planning applications, has urged Colchester Council to reject the plans.
It said: “The proposals for total demolition of the former Odeon cinema, a building included in Colchester Council’s Local List and located within Colchester Town Centre Conservation Area, are considered wholly inappropriate in this sensitive location.
“In addition, the scale and massing of the new build residential block which would replace the auditorium would be overly dominant in both short and long streetscape views within the conservation area and would adversely affect the setting of listed buildings in the vicinity.
“We, therefore, urge your authority to refuse the application in its current form.”
- How the new apartments could look from Southway
Blumarble says the submitted scheme is the only financially viable option for the site, where its previous plans to build 43 apartments and two retail units stalled due to financial concerns.
But the latest plans have drawn criticism for proposing the demolition of the original 1931 Cecil Massey designed frontage.
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- The historic cinema as it looks today
The Cinema Theatre Association, the national body which protects cinema buildings, has also objected to the plans.
It said: “The CTA is strongly opposed to the complete demolition of the original fabric, and urges Colchester Council to refuse this new application.
“We think any new application should follow the lines of the scheme permitted into 2018 and retain and restore this front block.”
The planning committee will have the final say on the plans after ward councillor Mark Goache called in the application.
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