Cinema owner appeals decision to stop demolition

Mark Richer wants to demolish the cinema and adjacent buildings to create an office block

The owner of a long-disused cinema has lodged an appeal with the local council in his attempt to get the building demolished.

The old Central Cinema on Hobson Street in Cambridge has not shown a film for more than 50 years.

In November, councillors refused an application by owner Mark Richer to knock it down to make way for an office block after planning officers said this would result in "significant harm" to the conservation area.

Mr Richer said the building was a "dead end" and could not be converted into anything else.

The Central Cinema was opened in 1930 with 1,069 seats.

It closed in 1972 and reopened as a bingo hall, but it has been unused since 2009.

Mr Richer wanted to create retail units, "community space", and refurbish Hobson's Passage as part of his application.

Concerns about the proposals were raised by planning officers at Cambridge City Council, who said the complete demolition of the "iconic 1930s Egyptian art deco style" building would result in "significant harm".

The cinema opened in 1930 on the site of a previous picture house, which had been converted from a petrol station

Mr Richer bought the building from a nightclub operator in 2011 and said the previous owner had wanted to turn it into a burlesque club.

He explained that particular plan "fell apart through a combination of high development costs and local opposition".

He added: "I've talked to cinema operators, restauranteurs, gym operators, religious groups, and hoteliers [about possible uses] and we haven't made any meaningful progress in 14 years.

"Everyone acknowledges the pressing need to do something on this site, to stop the rot and breathe in fresh life."

Mark Richer (right, and seen here with Peter Richer) said the council's position was "wholly unjustified"

He said he had now been "forced to make our case on appeal, rather than achieving planning permission from the council, who appear to have set their face firmly against any demolition".

"A position we consider to be wholly unjustified," he added.

A decision on the appeal is expected later this year.

The council has been contacted for a response.