A DEVELOPER’S appeal against a council decision to build flats at former cinema sites has been dismissed.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Libra Homes’ bid to demolish the majority of the empty Odeon building in Westover Road, Bournemouth and replace it with a 10-storey block of 84 flats with two floors of shops was rejected by planning officers in March 2017.

A subsequent application for a 14-storey building with shops and 101 flats was also turned down by officers the following month, without even reaching councillors.

In April, the developer lodged a planning appeal for the first scheme, as well as a further appeal against the decision to reject plans to demolish much of the former ABC cinema and build a block of 62 flats.

However, both applications have now been dismissed. A spokesperson for Goadsby, the agent for Libra Homes, said no decision has yet been taken about the developer’s next steps.

Asked if plans to develop the site into flats were now off the table, the spokesperson said: “Certainly not.”

Although the appeal has been thrown out, a “large number” of supportive comments were made, he said.

Libra Homes had planned to keep the cinema’s distinctive frontage with its colonnaded arches, but replace most of the rest in favour of a high-rise building with 97 car parking spaces.

The cinema was sold for £3.8million to the company, which also bought the ABC. The total price paid for both properties was £6.15m.

An outline planning application for the flats was then submitted. In documents, Libra said the scheme would have an “elegant contemporary design”.

Critics from the Bournemouth Civic Society said the scheme gives “little regard to the character of the area, the building’s significance or the potential for reuse as a leisure or cultural venue”.

James Weir, a historic buildings consultant and heritage officer for the Civic Society, called the outcome of the appeal “excellent news”.

"This is a positive outcome for Bournemouth’s heritage as the Inspector acknowledges the ‘very valuable historic contribution’ both the cinemas make to the town'," he said.

"The Inspector also confirms that the heritage value of both buildings lies in more than just their façades and that both buildings could be converted into cultural or tourist facilities.

"We hope that this outcome encourages the owners to bring these buildings back into use for the town in a more appropriate way that is consistent with their proper conservation."