YEARS of speculation over the future of the Northwick Cinema has ended after councillors agreed it could be used as an antique furniture shop.

Sixteen apartments will be built at the rear of the Ombersley Road landmark as part of the refurbishment bid approved yesterday.

Developers hope the Grade II listed Barbourne building, which is also expected to sell household goods, is likely to come back into use by this September.

"What we have here is a rather clever scheme that preserves the historic interior of the place and introduces a use that would seem not to undermine the work of preservation," said planning committee member Coun Geoff Williams.

"But also should circumstances change it could be taken out without affect the internal features of the building."

A written objection from former Mayor of Worcester, Coun Gareth Jones, over the road layout was dismissed.

Eleven councillors backed planning officers' view that plans should be approved, with one committee member abstaining from the vote.

The Northwick's redevelopment has been a controversial issue since it closed in 1996 after spending five years as a music concert hall - it stopped being a cinema in 1967 when it was transformed into a bingo hall.

Recent plans, including hopes of turning the 1930s building into an asylum seeker's centre or church, were ruled out.

Speaking after the meeting, the architect behind the renovation said she was confident Art Deco interior will be welcomed by shoppers who could think it novel.

"I think it will be the perfect use of the building. Essentially the auditorium space will feel as it did," said Helen Wootton from Glazzards Architects.

We're glad it'll change

Co-owners of nearby hairdressing salon Jades, Sandra Bradley and Rachel Preece, welcomed the plans.

"I have been here for more than 30 years now and I can remember it as a cinema, bingo hall and nightspot," said Mrs Bradley.

"It's such a shame it has been left to rot like it has. Something needs to be done with it and these plans seem to be as good as anything else.

Timeline

1938

The Northwick Cinema was opened in November as a sister cinema to the locally owned Scala in Angel Place.

1967

The cinema was closed down and the building transformed into a bingo hall.

1982

The building ceased to be used as a bingo hall and was closed all-together.

1984

The building was listed as Grade II by virtue of its interior and applications to demolish the building were refused.

n 1988

The former cinema was purchased by Coolsign Ltd who wanted to operate the building jointly with Cambridge Screen Projects as a cinema and brasserie.

1991

The building is bought by Ian Perks and turned into a live music venue.

1994

In April the venue was put on probation for six months by city councillors after complaints from residents about noise.

In November bids were made to turn it into a Sikh temple, a lorry distribution centre and a bingo hall.

1995

A bid for Lottery cash is made to help restore the building to its former glory.

n 1996

Comedian Freddie Starr throws his support behind a bid to renew the entertainment's licence at the venue following a barrage of complaints.

1997

The venue closes down after the managing company goes into voluntary liquidation.

1999

A church negotiates with owner Ian Perks to turn the venue into a place of worship but negotiations fail when the church group fails to put in an appropriate offer.

2003

Ian Perks is approached by a group wanting to develop the site into an asylum assessment centre.

In September, Mr Perks is ordered by Worcester City Council to carry out £60,000 worth of vital repairs to the building or sell it.

2004

In February the building is sold, dependant upon the outcome of planning permission, to Bomer Developments, who plan to turn it into an antique dealership and build flats at the rear.

In November plans are submitted to Worcester City Council by Bomer Developments.

What did you want it turned into?

Alfred Millis, 79, of Fairbairn Avenue, said: "I worked there for nine years when it was a bingo hall.

"It would be nice to see it turned into something for the community again.

"We've got nothing up here really and could do with a decent theatre in the city, so I think it would be a bit of a waste to turn it into retail."

Jenny Bramhall and Phil Lakey, co-owner of Ace Linen Polyclean Centre, which is just doors away from the cinema, said: "There are always gangs of kids hanging around at night, throwing their litter about.

"We are happy to see anything happen to it really. It is a complete eyesore and downgrades the whole area."

n Barry Hardiman, manager of neighbouring business Steve Mason Bookmakers, said: "You wouldn't believe some of the stuff that gets dumped down here.

"Anything has got to be better than what is looks like now. It's just dreadful and makes the area look untidy."

'Council to blame for losing a music venue'

OWNER of the Northwick Cinema Ian Perks has blamed Worcester City Council for the loss of "a national monument".

Mr Perks, who turned the former cinema into a live music venue in 1991, said he had little choice but to sell the building because he could not afford to run it any more.

"They didn't offer me any support with funding for events and you just cannot do it without that funding," he said.

"It's a sad loss for the city and the county to lose such a great venue. But the city council did not throw their support behind me to keep it open as a public venue.

"They are the reason the city has lost a national monument, which is as good as any music venue anywhere in the country."

Mr Perks said he was sad to see that the venue would no longer be used as an entertainment spot and would instead be used as a possible antiques centre.

"Places like this need support with funding and I just hope the Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall do not go the same way."