Big screen gets little bigger as Stafford cinema proposals extended
Plans for a new cinema in Stafford town centre have been expanded after a firm to run the attraction was secured.
The multi-million pound scheme has been increased from a five-screen 700 seat complex to a six-screen 800 seat venue.
The development will transform the former Express & Star office, Chicago Rock Cafe and Love 2 nightclub on Bridge Street with the front entrance facing the River Sow.
As well as the a cinema, the are plans for shops, a restaurant or cafe, bar and hot food takeaway at the site.
Stafford Borough Council granted planning permission for the original proposal last year but now the developers LXB Retail Properties have submitted fresh plans after declaring they had identified a firm to run the cinema, but stated at this stage they could not reveal who the provider would be.
Carl Barrand, director at LXB, said: "We have someone who is keen to do it, but we are in a position where we are bound by a contractual agreement and it is not in our hands to announce who that provider will be.
"It will be the firm themselves that will announce it."
He said that it was hoped the cinema would open by the end of 2016.
Earlier in the year the council said the cinema would actually offer seven screens but no application was ever submitted.
Mr Barrand added: "Basically we have just been re-configuring the cinema working out what is the most sensible layout.
"It has also depended on what the provider wants.
"What we have been able to do is provide the box in which it sits so they can tell us how many seats and screens they want.
"This latest application is a reaction to that.
"But there are not huge changes apart from that, the scheme is still more or less within the red line boundary of the site."
Planning documents include images of the Vue cinema in Halifax but Mr Barrand declared they were just to give a flavour of what the Stafford venue may look like.
The cinema is a key part of the overall £70million Riverside redevelopment which includes, restaurants and big name shops such as Marks & Spencer, Primark, H&M and River Island.
It will also feature a new 14 level car park with 1,000 spaces.
Richard Read from LXB, added: "The cinema must be of sufficient size to attract a national operator.
"The cinema function will compliment the retail offer, the latter offering potential for food, making Stafford a stronger destination for both shopping and leisure."
