Now its been decided to maintain the listing of the former Odeon Cinema building on the Historic Buildings Register, how will the Minister ensure the building does not further deteriorate
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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT BY SENATOR J.L. PERCHARD
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 1st FEBRUARY 2011
Question
Now that the Minister has decided to maintain the listing of the former Odeon Cinema building on the Historic Buildings Register, what does he intend to do to ensure that the building does not further deteriorate and blight its surroundings?
Answer
The decision to retain the status of the Odeon Cinema as a Listed building was solely related to the heritage value of the building: my consideration in this matter was restricted by law, to whether the special architectural and historical interest of the building had ceased to exist.
I was not able to consider the future use of the building when making this decision. I was simply required to decide whether, based on the evidence of its historical and architectural quality, its heritage value should be recognised through the retention of its status as a Listed building.
I have not been formally asked to consider the future use of the Odeon Cinema: there is no current planning application which sets out any proposals for it.
I have, however, made it clear that the continued Listing of the building does not predetermine any decision about its future. I would consider the submission of a planning application for the development of this site and the adjacent land to help regenerate this area of the town which has been neglected and has lacked investment for a considerable time already.
As a Listed building any application would be required to demonstrate that the use of the existing Odeon Cinema building had been properly and thoroughly explored. I have also made it clear, however that I would also give careful consideration to proposals to demolish the building where there was a clear and convincing case to do so. This would, at the very least, need to demonstrate a development scheme of exceptional architectural quality.