Plans for Bacup cinema overhaul
Construction firm B&E Boys has submitted plans for the demolition of the Regal Cinema to make room for a 9,800 sq ft commercial hub after attempts to inject new life into one of the town’s few remaining art deco buildings failed.
Buttress Architects has drawn up the plans for the project to transform the cinema off Burnley Road. The scheme would create a two-storey commercial building, which would be known as Bacup Technology Hub.
In addition to the cinema, there is also an existing snooker hall on site, as well as a vacant home at 14 Burnley Road. The snooker hall and house would be partially demolished and extended to create the hub.
Bacup Technology Hub would provide five commercial units ranging from 400 sq ft to 1,600 sq ft. Office space would be included within each unit.
There would be five car parking spaces provided for visitors.
The Regal Cinema was built in 1931 and converted into a bingo hall in the 1960s. The hall closed almost 20 years ago and has been vacant since.
Rossendale Council announced that the cinema was to be renovated in 2020 as part of a successful bid of more than £1m for funding from the government’s High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme.
However, the 20th century structure was deemed beyond repair.
According to a report submitted by structural engineer Michael Pooler Associates for the application, no original architectural features could be preserved.
Peter Boys, director of B&E Boys, said: “After lengthy consultation with both Rossendale Council’s conservation representative and Historic England, it was concluded that retaining the building would not be viable.
“We have now submitted plans and we propose to replace the former cinema with a very sensitive and high-quality building which will create employment, and enable other neighbouring properties to be brought back into use,” he continued. “Overall, it will contribute to the wider economic viability of the area.”
To find out more about the proposals, search for application number 2023/0158 on Rossendale Council’s planning portal.
As a Bacup resident I’d love to see this being built. Another great Buttress scheme. Things are looking to get better at this end of the Rossendale Valley.
By Andrew T
The facade should be kept, this looks a bit ‘Soviet.’
By Heritage Action
“it was concluded that retaining the building would not be viable”
As a commercial manager, that usually means a lack of desire, foresight and creativity. The existing building could be made to look much more appealing than the new proposals (which I don’t not like).
By Anon
Love the vibrant colour palette they went with
By Levelling Up Manager
The saga of this site has been going on for decades, it even made an appearance in “Homes under the Hammer”! Time it was resolved, B E Boys have done good work throughout the area and this should be no different, at the moment as you drive through Bacup the immediate urge is to get through it as quickly as possible, that needs to change.
By H J