New homes bid for site of burnt-out cinema

Fresh plans to redevelop the site of an art deco cinema that was destroyed by fire have been submitted.

The Regent Cinema in Lyme Regis, Dorset, was wrecked by the blaze in 2016.

The latest application is for two semi-detached houses and the conversion of the surviving part of the building into a home and two retail units.

A similar application for a retail and housing development on the site was withdrawn earlier this year.

The theatre's auditorium was completely destroyed and part of the north wall collapsed during the fire in March 2016.

The remaining walls were demolished or reduced in height but the front of the building, including the retail units, remains intact.

According to planning documents, the two-storey frontage on Broad Street will be retained, "including the original shopfronts, windows and internal detailing".

In its pre-application advice to site owner Seb Walther, Dorset Council's planning team said reinstating the cinema was no longer an option.

It said: "While the loss of a cinema use in the town centre of Lyme Regis is regrettable in terms of the contribution once made to the vitality of the town, it is accepted that, in this instance, given the extent of damage to the building caused by the fire, there is no realistic prospect of a cinema use being re-established in this case."

Interested parties have until 23 August to comment on the application.

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