Planning chiefs today (Wednesday) voted against controversial proposals by developers to partially demolish a B-listed cinema.

City of Edinburgh councillors voted eight to four in opposition to Duddingston House Properties’ (DHP) application to convert the former Odeon on Clerk Street into an arts hotel.

Planning officers had recommended against the plans on a number of grounds, including the assertion that the cinema is of special interest, and that demolition would not deliver significant economic growth or benefit the wider community.

Reporters also stated that DHP’s private evaluation of the 1930s building by Colliers International at £2.83 million “is still well above what the market, in times of recession, is willing to pay”, and that a further marketing period could attract other offers, especially if DHP were to lower their price.

This is the second time the developers have applied to demolish the art deco cinema after purchasing it for £1.5 million in 2003. Initially, in 2008, an application to convert the building was recommended for approval by the council’s planning committee, but was halted by Historic Scotland’s referral of the application to Scottish Ministers, who refused it.

A marketing process in 2010 resulted in four bids to restore the cinema, the highest being £600,000 from the New Victoria project and £1.6 million from Alan Scobie, though unsatisfied with the offers, DHP reapplied for permission to demolish the Odeon’s auditorium.

This inspired a high profile drive by local campaign group Save Our Cinema, involving the presentation of a 4000 signature-strong petition to council leader Jenny Dawe in March and an outdoor screening of the film Local Hero in April.

Speaking after the decision to refuse DHP’s application, campaign leader and Southside Community Council chair Hilary McDowell said:

“There wasn’t a single person in the community that I spoke to that wanted anything other than a cinema. Nobody wants a hotel. The businesses don’t, the locals don’t.

“There was a lot of discussion to get to this decision, but we’ve got the right result.”

Now campaigners must wait to hear whether owners DHP decide to appeal against the decision. Ms McDowell says that the community may need to call on the support of the City of Edinburgh Council.

She said: “We think DHP just need to take the money and get on with it. If they don’t we’ll start talking to people in the council about compulsory purchase. We’ve got 4300 signatures asking for compulsory purchase procedures to start because the building needs it.”

The decision over the planning application was postponed from May after DHP’s Chief Executive Bruce Hare wrote to council Chief Executive Sue Bruce stating that, amongst other alleged mistakes, it was “incomplete and false” to consider New Victoria’s and Alan Scobie’s bids as credible.

However, the Monitoring Officer maintained the recommendation made in May to refuse DHP’s application.

Mr Bruce also wrote to planners claiming the sale of Methodist Central Hall in Tollcross for more than £1 million proves the valuation of the Odeon site as accurate, though this was too late to be considered.

Local councillor Cameron Rose, who voted to uphold the council’s decision in 2008 to approve the application, welcomed proposals which would add “vibrancy and life” to the Southside community, but criticised the planning process which he says has resulted in the Odeon’s decaying state.

He said: “The big issue here is with the system that we have that enabled the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland to sit on this for 19 months whilst we have what is effectively a dead spot within the centre of a living community.

“We have gone for almost nine years with a premises just being inactive, and part of the reason for that is the contribution of a turgid planning system that’s not fit for purpose in relation to rejuvenating communities.”

Councillor Steve Burgess, who seconded a motion to refuse plans, said:

“I think this was very much the right decision. Circumstances have changed since the last committee decision in 2008. There’s very very strong community support to retain the former Odeon as a cinema entertainment complex and there are people who are clearly very interested in doing that.

“Hopefully the owners of the building will sell it and we can get on and see the former Odeon building redeveloped for the good of the community.”

IN DETAIL

Read the report to the Development Management Sub-committee recommending the refusal of DHP’s plans.

Council delays outcome of Odeon demolition application