Housing plans for derelict Lyme Regis cinema withdrawn
The idea for the site on Broad Street had been met with opposition
Last updated 1st Apr 2024
Housing plans proposals for the former fire-damaged Lyme Regis cinema site have been withdrawn after opposition, including from the town council and Civic Society.
The main building has been empty since the 2016 fire although the front of the building is in use by Black Cow vodka as bar and shop.
The art-deco cinema on Broad Street first opened its doors on October, 1937 and is a listed building.
Former owners, Scott’s Cinemas, has said it sold the site to “a local owner” with initial plans to convert it to a hotel being dropped after deciding the site would be unviable.
The alternative scheme, for housing, has now been withdrawn from the planning register after attracting dozens of comments, many in support.
The proposal was for two four or five-bedroom homes and a three-bedroom maisonette plus open ‘undercroft’ parking. It also sought to create two retail units on the ground floor.
The proposals allowed for the original side walls to be retained, and the refurbishment internally to see the existing staircase, staircase window and other historic features retained.
Dorset Council has confirmed that the proposals have now been withdrawn, although in line with its policy, does not say why.
The move is not uncommon when an application attracts widespread interest with developers then returning to the proposals, in light of local comments, and producing an alternative scheme or amendments to the original.
Lyme Regis town council said that it recommended refusal of the proposals, “with encouragement to revisit the appearance in order to make it more sympathetic to the surrounding conservation area whilst recognising it cannot recreate its original structure.”
Dorset Council’s conservation officer had said the proposals could not be supported, claiming:
“The proposed development will be harmful to the surviving part of the Regent Cinema, harmful to the historic character of Lyme Regis Conservation Area and harmful to the setting of the listed buildings that surround the site. The level of harm will be within the “less than substantial” definition, but it will be considerable. There is a strong heritage objection to the proposed development.”
It notes that the auditorium remains “a roofless ruin” with the first floor of the building not in use.
The Conservation Officer notes “It is an attractive example of the public face of a small town cinema of its period and makes a positive contribution to the special character and appearance of the conservation area.”
The application had been submitted by a London planning agent, Mackenzie Wheeler.
Many of the public comments were in support of redevelopment on the site, including an Axminster resident who wrote to tell Dorset Council “It’s time to tidy up Lyme Regis so fully support this application, many buildings in Lyme have become empty and tired / left in an occupied state which does not benefit anyone.”
Said the Lyme Regis Society in its objection to Dorset Council:
“The Society believes that Dorset Council should maintain their position to refuse any planning application that does not include the provision of a cinema for the residents and visitors to Lyme Regis and refuse any proposal that adversely affects the external appearance of the building both from the front of the building in Broad Street and to the rear from Langmoor Gardens.”
One immediate neighbour claimed the new proposals would be ‘overbearing’ and lead to a loss of privacy, also adding that there are concerns over road safety with the proposed site access.