AFTER more than three months of study since the applications was submitted, Thurrock Council has now published details of the planning application to renovate the State cinema in Grays and the parallel application for listed building consent.

Applicants London Development Global Limited want to bring the derelict Grade II* listed building back to life as a 57-bedroom hotel with banqueting services, spa and gym suite.

In their submission, developers say the new facility will diversify the local hospitality offer and strengthen the visitor economy, while creating significant employment opportunities during construction and operation with knock on benefits for local businesses and the supply chain.

It will offer 'provision of modern leisure and event facilities to support weddings, conferences, community functions, and wellbeing activities'.

And developers add: "The scheme will restore much of the existing building fabric to facilitate the proposed uses and enable public appreciation and enjoyment of this valuable heritage asset once more."

Key proposals are:-

Provision of a banqueting hall at ground floor level, and a hotel within the existing upper floors and a proposed upward extension at roof level.

The main entrance would be retained within the ground floor of the tower, leading into a lobby and reception area within its feature octagonal interior. Beyond the lobby at ground floor level it is proposed to create a foyer/coffee area which is envisaged to be a publicly accessible space that will also operate a pavement café along George Street.

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The existing vast auditorium space with stage would be restored and repurposed to provide a banqueting hall with a capacity of around 560 covers. The existing cinema seating would be removed and restored/repurposed where possible, to enable terracing of the areas to provide round table seating for banqueting events and dinners.

Services associated with the operation of the banqueting facility; including a dressing room, toilets, kitchen and ancillary storage areas are proposed to be located within the existing ancillary areas forming the George Street frontage at ground floor level.

At first floor level, it is proposed to create a hotel bar/restaurant/breakfast area within the space behind the circle and the first floor of the tower.

In addition, hotel rooms would be created within the first floor of the part-two-part-three storey front (south) projection onto George Street, utilising the existing windows to maximise light into the bedrooms without creating additional apertures.

To the rear (north) elevation, ladies and gentlemen's toilets would be created, alongside ancillary hotel staff facilities.

At second floor level additional hotel rooms would be created, comprising two rooms within a newly formed second floor behind the parapet of the part-two-part-three storey front (south) projection onto George Street.

New windows would be inserted into the existing parapet in line with the windows on the floor below to facilitate natural light into the rooms.

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An additional two rooms would be created within the second floor of the tower, with arrowslit windows providing natural light, and two rooms in the east elevation.

A key feature of the second floor is the creation of five high-level hotel rooms to the rear of the circle.

The third-floor level currently containing the projector and rewind rooms with the original equipment will largely remain in situ. It is proposed to refurbish and retain the equipment, with public access facilitated through pre-organised events such as cinema and theatres heritage open days.

The existing roof void space would be developed to form a fourth floor containing additional rooms, including a room within the tower.

The new rooms would be accessed via a newly formed glazed roofed, terraced atrium and would, save for the tower room, all be provided with a balcony.

At roof level an additional storey would be constructed to comprise additional rooms. The roof extension would be formed of brickwork piers, with floor to ceiling glazing between and a glazed roof providing natural light to the newly formed fourth and fifth floor atriums below.

The newly formed upper floors would be principally accessed by vertically extending an existing three storey projection with parapet to create a vertical access core.

The full planning statement can be read via this link.