New five-screen cinema and 'entertainment complex' for Nuneaton town centre

[dutchman]

The town has been awarded money from the government's Future High Street Fund (FHSF) to transform the town centre



A new five-screen cinema is set to be built in Nuneaton town centre following a festive £13m windfall.

It will form part of a new "entertainment complex" at Abbey Street, the town's MP Marcus Jones said.

Other projects that can now go ahead after the announcement of the cash include the opening up of the River Anker and new housing for the town centre area.

The money comes from the government's Future High Street Fund (FHSF) which aims to transform town centres up and down the country.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council had asked for almost £23m to pay for part of the Transforming Nuneaton programme. While the full funding bid was not accepted, the scheme has been given £13,362,736.

It means that Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council can forge ahead with a large part of the regeneration of Abbey Street - which includes the five-screen cinema.

Mr Jones welcomed the announcement. He said: “I’m delighted, after such a difficult year this is just the Christmas present that we need for our town centre. This funding should now enable the entertainment complex at Abbey Street, new housing and the opening up of the river to go ahead.

"It’s a timely and massive boost for the town centre, which has suffered badly as the pandemic has accelerated the challenges for our shops, we need a town centre more based on leisure, work and living and this funding is a massive step forward to deliver that."

There is a masterplan to give Abbey Street a facelift -and it includes a five screen cinema, 145 bed hotel and 450 multi-storey car park.

The 'landmark' hotel would be built on what is currently the Abbey Street car park, opposite the former Ritz building.

Next to the new hotel would be a five screen cinema and a 450 multi-on the remaining existing car park land.

The FHSF will help to pay for the cinema and other elements of the eight point plan for Abbey Street.

Further funding will need to be secured to achieve the entire eight point plan.

[dutchman]

Another 'White Elephant'?

If this was financially viable surely private investors would be falling over themselves to pay for it?

[rebbonk]

You are right, Dutchman.

I could think of half a dozen things Nuneaton needs before this. But as I say, follow the money...