An inspector ruled plans by Blumarble to demolish the building and turn it into flats and shops should not go ahead.

The plans were rejected by councillors in August 2021.

Blumarble, which has owned the old Odeon site since 2015, launched an appeal against Colchester Council’s decision.

An inspector has now reviewed the plans and upheld the council's ruling.

So what could be the future for the site?

When the art deco building first opened in Crouch Street in 1931 it became the sixth cinema in the town.

At the time Colchester had far fewer residents but the Regal, as it was, proved as popular as what became the Hippodrome, the Playhouse, the ABC, Corn Exchange and Vaudeville cinemas which predated it.

For decades the Crouch Street building was hugely popular, closing in 2002 and remaining empty since then.

Odeon moved out of the Crouch Street venue and into its new home in Head Street.

In the 20 years since the cinema closed many people have tried and failed to revive the building over the years.

Understandably due to its previous use, the building means an awful lot to the town, and its historic nature makes regenerating it more difficult.

In 2019 the owners of Coda bar, in Colchester High Street, Ollie Ward and Tristan Clarke, revealed they wanted to take over the building.

Their plans would have seen a huge 2,000 person gig venue created, making it one of the largest live music establishments in the east of England.

After revealing their idea to the council at a cabinet meeting in 2019, things went quiet.

But that doesn't mean it couldn't happen.

In 2018 Blumarble put forward £10 million proposals would have seen the frontage saved with 57 apartments as well as retail units built.

However, the proposals hit the rocks with owner Matt Ellis saying they were no longer financially viable.

This led to a rethink and the most recent scheme emerging.

In 2014, Ross Carroll, of developer Amdev 101, applied for planning permission to convert the building into three shops and seven apartments.

The frontage would've been preserved with a second block featuring another 36 apartments built behind.

Businessman Steve Peri wanted to turn the building into a huge nightclub.

It would have been a "superclub" and had room for about 1,700 revellers.

However, Colchester Council stepped in to block the proposed development.

The nightclub plans rumbled on for more than five years after initially being revealed way back in 2005.

A planning appeal to a Government inspector was even rejected.