Blackpool approves Odeon cinema conversion
Austringer Capital has been granted permission to convert the building at Festival Leisure Park into four food and drink units and family entertainment centre.
The developer lodged the application so that it could secure another use for the building if Odeon decides to vacate the 45,000 sq ft premises when its lease expires next year.
“It is considered that converting the building to another leisure use will be beneficial to the health of the town centre,” a planning statement by WSP said.
“It would ensure the new MMC nine-screen cinema complex being developed at Houndshilll Shopping Centre would have less competition,” the statement added.
The architect for the project is Bowman Riley.
Austringer bought Festival Leisure Park last year and is planning to deliver a Starbucks drive-thru elsewhere on the 8.5-acre site.
There is also a bingo hall, to be operated by Club 3000, under construction on a neighbouring plot that Austringer plans to complete.
