Revised cinema project unveiled - property development finance

Published: 25.3.2008

New plans have been unveiled for the commercial re-use of a former cinema in Leeds.

Following a cool response from local residents to its original plans for the Lounge Cinema in the Headingley district in January, ATC Properties has revealed a scaled-back plan which will reduce the size of buildings at the back and the number of underground parking spaces.

ATC Properties is proposing to spend £6 million of Property Development Finance on the building, which closed as a cinema in 2005, with the site housing a mixture of office and retail premises.

Managing director of ATC David Barrass said attention was already being paid to the project by potential tenants, commenting: "We have already received a significant amount of interest from several restauranters, local businesses and retailers, who are all keen to discuss the potential opportunities."

Another West Yorkshire location which may see a former cinema redeveloped for commercial use is Bradford.

Campaigners hoping to save the Odeon Cinema building in the city centre have given themselves six months to find a new use for the building as an alternative to it being demolished, the Bradford Telegraph and Argus reports.