Jersey’s former Odeon Cinema will remain a listed building.
The owners Le Masurier’s, who had plans for a £40m redevelopment of the site and surrounding area have withdrawn their scheme, as it involved pulling down the former cinema.
The Planning Minister, Senator Freddie Cohen made the decision to maintain the listing following a request by the owners that its special status be removed.
Le Masurier group wanted to demolish the building to make way for flats, shops and restaurants. They argued it was derelict, riddled with asbestos and was of no historic, architectural and cultural value.
But after a public meeting on Monday, the Minister decided to keep the former cinema. Senator Cohen said:
‘I have no doubt that the Odeon deserves a chance to survive. This listing decision does not mean, however, that the building has to remain forever, but it does raise the bar for any replacement. If a proposal of exceptional architectural quality was to be brought forward it is indeed possible that such a proposal could succeed. I would need to be convinced, however, that sufficient consideration had been given to exploring alternative uses for the existing building.’
But no planning application will be made by the owners of the building. Le Masurier are hugely upset with the decision and say they’re withdrawing their £40m redevelopment scheme:
‘In the absence of any commercially viable alternative use, the Odeon will remain an empty, functionless building and we will continue to provide over 150 much needed commuter car parking spaces on our site together with the existing retail operations. Retaining the listing means the only use for the building is that of a cinema, which is simply not viable and was the reason the Odeon closed it in 2004. Alternative uses for the building have been suggested such as an arts centre, an ice skating rink and a concert venue. But Sir Philip Bailhache, Chairman of the National Gallery Steering Group, has stated the former Odeon is not suitable for a new national gallery, theatre or other arts facility.’
By law the Planning Minister’s decision had to focus on the heritage value of the building and so he could only examine its architectural and historic interest. The state of repair; the inadequacy of service provision; viability of use and alternative use or redevelopment were not allowed to come into it.
Le Masurier are disappointed the Minister couldn’t consider the economic and social benefits of their proposals and they won’t pursue a planning application. They say it’s St Helier’s loss: ‘We have spent years working towards supporting a coherent Master Plan for the North of Town, but now the benefits that our proposals would have contributed, such as public car parking, a pedestrian link to the Town Park and public realm improvements, simply cannot be realised.’
The Planning Minister has asked Jersey Heritage to undertake further work to determine the grading of the Odeon. That will help inform any future decision on the possible development of the building.