COLCHESTER residents have backed plans to transform a disused cinema into a luxury hotel.

Architects working with the Marriott hotel group launched a bid to transform the old Odeon cinema in Crouch Street into a 120-bed Moxy hotel in December last year.

If approved, the building would retain its 1930s façade with the new hotel sitting behind it.

Planners at Colchester Council have received a pile of letters of support from residents who are delighted at the prospect of the “problematic site” in a “very unpleasant road” being overhauled.

A lifelong resident of the city wrote: “Now we have city status added to the fabulous history of this wonderful place, we desperately need to attract visitors.

“Having a modern city centre hotel would be one of its greatest advantages. On behalf of the people of Colchester I pray that if passed it will be a prestigious hotel which we desperately need.”

Gazette: Throwback - the cinema in the 1990sThrowback - the cinema in the 1990s

Another said: “This building has been lost to the town for a generation. Crouch Street used to be the jewel in the crown for Colchester. Due to the neglect of this building, it has become a very unpleasant road.

“This is an opportunity that will not only bring the street appearance up but bringing tourists and visitors to town will benefit the town as a whole.

“I urge common sense to be used when debating this plan or this, like many other great opportunities, will be lost for another generation.”

Plans to convert the former cinema into a nightclub were thrown out in 2006 after planning bosses said it would create too much external noise, disturbance, litter, anti-social behaviour, and crime.

Councillors later gave proposals to build 57 flats and two retail units at the site the green light, but owner Matt Ellis pulled the brakes in 2018 after saying the plans were no longer financially viable.

Gazette: Memories - the site has been empty since 2002Memories - the site has been empty since 2002

Reflecting on the site’s history, another resident said: “This is a good use of the building and location and will be a project I can personally support including the front façade being kept.

“This will help to support regeneration and a positive use of the site after so many false starts.”

“Having to work across the road from this proposed site for the past five years, we are extremely excited for this potential proposition to be granted as we feel it will bring much long-awaited positive change to the area,” another wrote.

'Ideal solution'

One resident feels the proposals will “make good a very problematic area in a focal point of our town”.

They urged the council: “Please support the proposals and get this building regenerated as soon as possible.”

The Theatres Trust, Cinema Theatre Association, and Colchester Cycling Campaign are also among the stakeholders who have backed the plans.

Colchester Civic Society said: “A hotel is an ideal solution to the future use of this long term problematic site and hopefully the feasibility of the economics are realistic to the Marriot board as a successful business plan.”

Just one objection has been received by Colchester Council, which says some hotel rooms “will directly overlook” offices of a nearby business.

The planning authority is aiming to make a decision on the plans in the coming weeks.