The failed projects to revive Colchester's old Odeon cinema

Blumarble Property's latest plans for the Crouch Street building were rejected by the planning committee on Thursday evening.

It is far from the first failed revival to have come and gone in the 19 years since the cinema giant closed the premises, moving to its new home in Head Street.

The building has been blighted with antisocial behaviour over the decades since and its future is possibly the long-running planning saga in Colchester.

Understandably due to its previous use, the building means an awful lot to the town, and its historic nature makes regenerating it more difficult.

Many people have tried and failed over the years.

Here are all the failed regeneration schemes for the iconic building:

Blumarble's 55 apartments plan

The most recent scheme, rejected on Thursday, would have seen the building pulled down in its entirety.

The historic frontage would have been replaced with a replica and 55 apartments, two retail units and a basement car park created.

However, councillors rejected the plans due to concerns over the demolition, raised further by Historic England and Theatres' Trust objections.

Read more >>> Flats plans for old Odeon in Colchester set to be rejected

Coda owner's gig venue proposals

These plans were a bit less official, but the owners of Coda bar, in Colchester High Street, Ollie Ward and Tristan Clarke, wanted to take over the building.

Their plans would have seen a huge 2,000 person gig venue created, making it one of the largest live music establishments in the east of England.

After revealing their idea to the council at a cabinet meeting in 2019, things went quiet.

But that doesn't mean it couldn't happen.

Read more >>> Owners of Coda in talks to turn Colchester's old Odeon into gig venue

Blumarble's 57 apartments plan

Current owner Blumarble did have a previous set of plans approved by Colchester Council.

The £10 million proposals would have seen the frontage saved with 57 apartments as well as retail units built.

However, in 2018 the proposals hit the rocks with owner Matt Ellis saying they were no longer financially viable.

This led to a rethink and the latest scheme emerging.

Read more >>> Colchester old Odeon plans on the rocks as scheme isn't financially viable anymore

Amdev 101's apartment plans

In 2014, Ross Carroll, of developer Amdev 101, applied for planning permission to convert the building into three shops and seven apartments.

The frontage would've been preserved with a second block featuring another 36 apartments built behind.

This is similar to how Blumarble's proposals were set to work.

Read more >>> Developer reveals how Colchester Odeon redevelopment will "rejuvenate" Crouch Street

Nightclub proposals

Businessman Steve Peri wanted to turn the building into a huge nightclub.

It would have been a "superclub" and had room for about 1,700 revellers.

However, Colchester Council stepped in to block the proposed development.

The nightclub plans rumbled on for more than five years after initially being revealed way back in 2005.

A planning appeal to a Government inspector was even rejected.

Instead Mr Peri turned his attentions to other options, such as building shops and homes on the site.

None of these ever made it to fruition and the building was eventually sold.

Read more >>> Owner of old Odeon in Colchester says he may pull it down

What do you think?

What would you like to see done with the old Odeon?

Email us at robbie.bryson@newsquest.co.uk.