Parking problems are so “chronically bad” that councillors have delayed a decision on converting a historic Leicestershire cinema into flats. The former Danilo cinema on Trinity Lane in Hinckley town centre, an art-deco building described by council officers as “partially derelict”, is set to be turned into 40 one-bed flats.
Wigston Estates hopes to convert the 87-year-old building into homes, but has proposed only 13 parking spaces to be shared between the residents, as well as storage for 50 bicycles.. At a Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) plans committee earlier this month, Nathaniel Chima addressed councillors on behalf of the developer and said the number of spaces included in the plans was “the realistic maximum”.
HBBC leader, Councillor Stuart Bray acknowledged the building had stood empty for “a long period of time”, and that the scheme “had some merit, but was concerned about the parking issues. He said: “Anybody who knows this part of town will know the parking situation in this area is chronically bad. We should not kid ourselves, if we approve this scheme today as it stands we will make that problem worse for people.”
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Coun Bray revealed the issue was so bad, constituents in his area who were having building work carried out at their home had to carry bricks from two streets away due to the lack of parking spaces. “I can’t in good conscience support this scheme tonight knowing that we’re going to make that problem worse,” he added.
He proposed deferring the decision, allowing planning officers to explore “ways to make more parking for this development”. Coun Richard Allen agreed with Coun Bray, but suggested that if the scheme is approved in the future, the building might be called Danilo House, “to make sure that name carries forward in history”.
“This is part of four heritage our culture and it is important that we keep it,” Coun Mark Bools said. But he also had concerns over parking, and said the scheme “can’t undermine the residents that live there currently”.
The cinema stands in the town’s Hollycroft Conservation Area and was built in 1937. It was turned into a sports bar in 1997 before closing in 2004, and is described in a council report prepared for the committee as being “partially derelict”. There had been 20 letters of objections in the first public consultation for the plans, with a further 10 objections being submitted after the developer removed a proposed car club space. Two petitions, which gathered 44 and 52 signatures, were raised in objection to the “insufficient parking provision”.
Mr Chima told councillors at the meeting: “Significant effort has been made optimising the layout to maximise the parking provision.” And he argued that “excessive car parking provision can encourage the use of cars”, which he said was contrary to sustainable travel efforts. He added the building “has been derelict for over 20 years and become a constant concern for the police”. He said the plans would “secure a long term and financially viable future use” and would reduce the risk of anti social behaviour.”
Addressing Mr Chima, Coun James Moore said: “We like your basic ideas to try and capture the essence of the old building by trying to maintain part of its structure. And certainly this is a much better solution than demolition.” But he added: “When I first read 13 places for 40 units I thought I was a misprint frankly. We can’t simply heap more misery on local residents who are already struggling.”
Councillors voted unanimously to defer the proposals so council planning officers could look at ways of increasing parking spaces for the development.
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