A DEVELOPER has denied claims it made a move to buy Bournemouth's former ABC cinema.

Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) was reported in the Daily Echo to have made a bid for the site by sources close to developer Libra Homes, shortly before the latter's application to demolish most of the building in Westover Road and build 62 flats was rejected by the borough council's planning board.

Architect Bradley Cheer of Anders Roberts Cheer in Christchurch, who designed the building, said he had been informed by Libra that BDC had proposed it would "comprehensively redevelop" the cinema alongside the neighbouring former ice rink site.

A spokesman for BDC, which is a partnership between the council and Morgan Sindall Investments, said: "The Bournemouth Development Company would like to clarify that it has never tried in any way to acquire Bournemouth’s ABC cinema since the property was bought by Libra Homes.

"We have had no discussions with Libra Homes about it, made no representations to them or anyone else, nor sought to invite them to sell it.

"We are mystified by the claim made in the article."

Libra has now seen two applications for the Odeon site rejected as well as its one bid to redevelop the ABC.