Thumbs up set for Northumberland cinema project

Proposals for a major cinema-led mixed-use development look set to be given the green light when they go before planners next week.

Submitted by Advance Northumberland to Northumberland County Council, the plans include the construction of a new cinema, along with ancillary restaurant provision and associated car parking space on land south of a petrol station in Ashington town centre. The proposals also include an outline submission for the creation of new retail and restaurant floor space.  

The cinema will have approximately 28,000 sq ft of floor space, while the ancillary restaurant will have approximately 5,800 sq ft, with them set to be situated on the northernmost plot of the site, east of Lintonville Terrace and between an Asda store and leisure centre.  

The building will house seven screens with a total seating capacity of 660 people. The bulk of the cinema and restaurant floor space is sited at first floor level with an entrance foyer, undercroft car park and surface level car park at ground floor level.

A total of 117 car parking spaces are proposed including seven disabled spaces and two spaces with electric vehicle charging points.

 Situated on the southernmost plot of the approximately 2.4 acre application site, the outline element of the scheme involves the demolition of the existing building and the development of around 12,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant floor space.  

A report to be scrutinised by the strategic planning committee recommends that the plans be approved.