Facade of Preston’s former Odeon cinema will be saved

Former Odeon Cinema in Church Street Pic: David Calpin — The Odeon facade looks set to be saved

The facade of the former Odeon cinema will be saved after the huge fire that devastated the city centre site.

The amended application to preserve the facade at 150 Church Street was approved at the Preston City Council planning committee on Thursday 3 November.

After a structural report recommended two options for retaining the facade, the chosen proposal will see a temporary infill wall built at the back.

Odeon facade plans with infill wall Pic: Reid Jones Partnership — One option is to build a temporary infill wall behind the surviving structure Pic: Reid Jones Partnership

Planning officers stated the facade counts as a Non-Designated Heritage Asset, important to the ‘grain’ of the city centre.

The decision follows a campaign by local residents to overturn the original plan to demolish the facade.

A separate proposal to build a temporary surface car park was also approved at the 3 November planning committee.

The plan is to level the site to match the surrounding roads, Church Street, Main Sprit Weind and Old Cock Yard.

Demolition will only begin once work has been completed to safeguard the frontages of 150, 152 and 154 Church Street.

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