Halo Developments drawing up new plans to revive Ringwood’s crumbling Regal Cinema site

NEW plans are to be submitted for reviving Ringwood’s landmark former Regal Cinema after the previous application was pulled.

Halo Developments had proposed new shops and 20 flats to remodel the crumbling old Corn Exchange, a prominent heritage asset at 2 Market Place unused for over two decades. But it but has now withdrawn this popular application which was submitted last November.

Henry Courtier, planning director at Halo’s agents Pegasus Group, confirmed: “Halo Developments remains committed to the delivery of a mixed-use commercial and residential scheme at this site.

“Following discussions with planning, design and heritage officers at the council, the decision was made to withdraw the planning application to allow revisions to be made in respect of the proposed design and massing.

“A revised planning application is currently being prepared and will be submitted at the earliest opportunity in order to bring this important building back into active use.”

Both the town council and Ringwood Society had shared their concerns for the future of the decaying 19th century landmark.

Built in 1868, the ‘New Town Hall’ at 2 Market Place originally served as a corn exchange and a court house, being converted into a cinema in 1914 and later into a parade of shops with a squash club and an Italian restaurant in 1977.

In 1990 the building became the Route 42 nightclub but the site has been vacant since it was last used as a nightclub with a car wash at the rear in December 2002.

Subsequent permission was granted for further redevelopments, including residential flats and restaurants, in 2004 and 2008, but these did not go ahead.

Halo’s previous scheme involved part-demolition, part-refurbishment and construction of rear and roof extensions to the existing building to create commercial floorspace and 20 flats – 11 two-bedroom, eight one-bed and a three-bed – with 11 car and 54 cycle parking spaces.

A Pegasus spokesman said at that time: “Our brief has been to take an existing and historic theatre in a prominent position on the high street of this historic market town, and restore the building to a viable residential development with a bustling commercial ground floor.

“We have restored the existing facades of the original building to be as in-keeping as possible. The intent is to complete a transformational development that will encourage economic, social and cultural improvements within the local vicinity.”

The council should have determined that application by 19th March but Halo Developments then accepted a deadline extension to 31st May for NFDC to consider revised plans and comments on additional information before it then withdrew the scheme.