Preston's ODEON cinema issues statement on future after storage facility plan revealed
The ODEON cinema chain says it has no plans to close its Preston multiplex – in spite of a proposal emerging to turn it into a self-storage facility.
A planning application has been lodged with Preston City Council for the conversion of the Port Way venue – near the city’s docks – which has been in operation since 1990.
Permission for the change of use has been sought by the site’s landowner to prevent the plot from standing empty should the 10-screen cinema be vacated at some point in the future.
However, documents submitted to town hall planners on behalf of the unnamed applicant stress “for absolute clarity” that the current occupiers of the premises “have not advised…of any intention to cease operating the building as a cinema”.
The Lancashire Post understands that the ODEON has a long-term lease on the plot and does not foresee any changes to its operation in the medium-term.
A spokesperson for the chain said: “We are aware of a planning application submitted by the landlord in relation to our ODEON Preston cinema. It does not affect our operating position in any way.
“ODEON Preston remains open, and our focus continues to be on delivering a great cinema experience for our guests.”
The 1890-seat venue originally opened under the UCI brand before taking on the ODEON moniker in 2004 after the two companies merged.
The application for the storage facility conversion states that it has been made “in the event that the existing tenant was unable to continue trading as a cinema”.
It adds: “We confirm that it would be the applicant’s preference for the building to remain in use as a cinema, but notwithstanding that, the landowner is obliged to ensure it preserves flexibility for the building to remain in sustainable economic use in the event that the existing use proved incapable of being continued.
“The purpose of this change of use application is solely to secure the lawful opportunity to move into an alternative use (if required) to prevent the building from becoming vacant in the future.”
The proposal notes that the building received ”some investment [from] the tenant in 2014″, but that it would “still benefit” from a further cash injection – not least to respond to the offering from new entrants to the cinema and leisure sector in Preston, including the council-owned Animate complex in the city centre and the Flower Bowl alongside Barton Grange Garden Centre.
The proposed storage facility – should it ever be developed – would contain units of various sizes and would require little external alteration to the building apart from the relocation of the entrance.