Derelict Brighton cinema to be demolished

The derelict Astoria cinema in Brighton is to be demolished and replaced by energy-efficient offices.

The Grade II listed building has been empty for 15 years despite a number of ideas to bring it back into use.

Members of Brighton and Hove City Council Planning Committee have voted to allow a new building up to six storeys high on the site in Gloucester Place, near St Peter’s Church.

It will include a dozen starter units aimed mainly at people in the creative industries or small digital media or IT companies.

The building will also house a café and a community meeting room.

Councillors voted for the plans after being told that the building – last used as a bingo hall – was genuinely redundant and that no viable scheme could be found to restore it.

A report to councillors said that no organisation had been able to come up with realistic  plans to renovate the Astoria, a project estimated to cost at least £3.5 million.

The art deco cinema was built in 1933 and included a magnificent auditorium with impressive décor.

For many years it has been a sorry sight, with percussion group Stomp buying it at one stage but unable to make a go of it.

Businessman and property developer Mike Holland bought it four years ago for more than £2 million.

Despite his track record of preserving threatened historic buildings, such as Stanmer House in Brighton and the Engineerium in Hove, he has applied to demolish the Astoria.

Sir Terence Conran’s architectural practice has come up with the energy-efficient proposal that won over councillors.

The design is intended to maximise the use of passive solar heating and natural ventilation through a chimney effect.

Rain and waste water from hand basins will be used to flush the toilets.

Planning committee chairman Councillor Phelim MacCafferty said: “The council took this unusual decision on this occasion because of the special circumstances.

“The planning committee was convinced by those circumstances that proposals for the reuse of the Astoria as it stands were exhausted.

“The scheme will provide a new development bringing jobs in one of our most environmentally friendly buildings.”

The scheme’s backers believe that it could create up to 200 jobs.

Councillor MacCafferty said: “This will also bring great improvements on the outlook of historic homes which have been in the Astoria’s shadow for the best part of a century.”

Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership’s executive director Tony Mernagh said: “This decision shows that Brighton and Hove means business, providing grade A employment space for grade A jobs for our growing, young population in a sustainable building in a sustainable location.

“It’s excellent news for the city and the Economic Partnership welcomes it.”