New cinema back on agenda in market hall revamp

Colne was awarded a £6.5m levelling up grant to upgrade three theatre venues and other town projects

A new cinema is being considered again as part of plans to revamp a Lancashire market.

Colne market hall is being redeveloped along with theatre spaces in the town, including the Municipal Hall and Pendle Hippodrome, using government levelling-up funding.

The proposals for the market includes a new indoor food hall area, new glazed frontage and building facade materials and a redesigned indoor stalls area.

The plan was deferred in November after failing to meet requirements over economic, design and public space needs but work started on the redevelopment in January.

Pendle Council was awarded a £6.5m levelling up grant to upgrade three theatre venues and other town projects including Colne market.

Originally, market hall revamp ideas included a cinema, according to a Pendle Council report, but was not part of later proposals.

However, there may be further phases which could again include a cinema, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A report to Pendle councillors has given some updates on the scheme.

Regarding the market hall, it states: “Asbestos removal has started and the canopy at the front has been dismantled and removed.

"Other internal and external strip-out work is continuing.

"Options for the internal layout to accommodate the low ceilings at the front of the market hall are under development and should be complete in July."

The report said Quarterbridge Consultants were finalising their report on the future operation of the market.

Review proposals

It said the project team continued to review proposals for future phases to satisfy more fully the original levelling-up fund bid for more accommodation and a cinema.

The team is also looking at the feasibility of relocating the outdoor market to Hartley Square during the work, it said.

Regarding theatre upgrades, the report stated work was "nearing completion and under budget" on the Hippodrome Theatre with the handover scheduled this month.

It also said works at the Municipal Theatre continued with the completion scheduled by 22 August, in time for Colne Blues Festival.

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