A decision will be made on the former Odeon cinema building later this week

THE former Odeon Cinema is to retain its listed status because of its historical benefits – but the owners say that it will now remain an ‘empty, functionless building’ and that they are scrapping their £40 million plans to regenerate the area.

Environment Minister Freddie Cohen announced today that he had decided to keep the 1951 building as a Site of Special Interest because it ‘deserved a chance to survive’.

C Le Masurier had asked for the Odeon to be removed from the listed register so that they could develop it into flats and offices.

But following Senator Cohen’s decision, which upheld the building’s initial listing in 2003, managing director of C Le Masurier Brian McCarthy said that they would be cancelling their project.

Article posted on 20th January, 2011 – 3.00pm