Heronslea Group, which specialises in luxurious developments, last October lodged plans to turn the Mecca Bingo building on King Street in Watford into a shop and 25 new flats.

The developer proposes to keep the existing Art Deco façade of the building and construct a new part three and part four-storey building behind it.

The building was constructed in 1913 as Watford’s first large cinema and it opened in December 1913 as the Central Hall Cinema. It was refaced in its current Art Deco style in the 1930s as part of a comprehensive renovation.

It ceased use as a cinema in 1968 and subsequently became a bingo hall. This use has now also ceased and the building is vacant.

Watford Borough Council planning officers, who acknowledged that the proposal will result in the loss of the majority of the locally listed building, have recommended the plans be approved subject to the completion of a legal agreement.

The plans will be discussed by the council’s development management committee tomorrow (19 February).