00:00New plans have been submitted to transform Castleford's long derelict picture house into social housing apartments, with developers now aiming to significantly increase the number of homes inside the landmark building.
00:14Wakefield Council previously granted permission in 2022 for 25 apartments at the Station Road site after it was bought at auction, but the former cinema and nightclub has remained unoccupied ever since, following a suspected arson attack in 2017.
00:31Now updated proposals from a new company would raise the number of dwellings to 37.
00:36Planning documents confirm the end user would be social housing provider Vico Homes, which was formerly Wakefield District Housing.
00:47Developers say the building has become an eyesore that detracts from the vitality of the town centre, and argue the scheme would secure its long-term future.
00:57They say the apartments have been designed to offer very good standards of housing, with generous room sizes, strong natural light and outlook.
01:04The plans also include on-site gym and cinema facilities for residents once the building is fully renovated.
01:13While the original scheme featured three commercial units on the ground floor, the revised proposal reduces that to a single premises.
01:21The picture house first opened in 1921 as a luxury cinema and theatre.
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