Burger King, Starbucks and Greggs to replace Derby's 'disgusting' cinema as full demolition agreed
Full demolition of a long abandoned cinema has been approved with well known food and drink outlets to take its place.
Derby City Council has given the green light for a new Burger King drive-thru store at the partly-bulldozed Showcase Cinemas site on Osmaston Park Road.
Just a few yards away there will be a Starbucks drive-thru constructed, with the building to also include a new Greggs store.
The building – reportedly Derby’s first multiplex cinema – has been left half bulldozed in recent years, prompting calls for urgent action.
Last year new plans for the “ugly” site were submitted to fully demolish the dilapidated building, which hundreds used to visit daily for more than 20 years.
The plans for demolition came in two parts. The first plan submitted was to build a 66-bed care home on part of the site and the second was for a retail/food complex including a Greggs, Starbucks and Burger King.
The city council has approved the latter application – with the care home element still to be decided.
The addition of Starbucks, Greggs and Burger King will significantly change the appearance of an area many have been calling for. The cinema closed several years ago following the coronavirus pandemic.
Applicant Pear Tree Ltd told the council in a planning statement that the work to regenerate the area was needed “sooner rather than later”.
When the plans first emerged residents living nearby called the state of the area an “eyesore”.
Lynne, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said: “I think it is disgusting – I can’t believe someone is allowed to half demolish it and then leave it as it is.
“It’s an eyesore. I’m glad there are new plans in place.
Kushbakt Khan, who lives adjacent to the cinema, said: “It’s such a shame to see the building as it is now. It needs to become a beautiful place to visit again.”
The approval marks a positive turn for the site which was at the centre of a council dispute a few years ago.
Plans were submitted to turn the building into a car showroom. However, those plans descended into crisis when the council started demolition work began before permission was granted.
Since then, the site has remained partly bulldozed and abandoned.
In a decision notice, dated January 15, the council said: “In dealing with this application the city council has worked with the applicant/agent in a positive and proactive manner and has secured appropriate and proportionate improvements to the scheme which relate to highways, design, noise and other materials considerations.”