Former market hall could be turned into cinema

A disused market hall could become a cinema under new regeneration plans for a town in Leicestershire.

North West Leicestershire District Council has put forward plans to regenerate the former Coalville Market Hall, located off High Street in Coalville town centre, into two independent, self-contained units – one of which could become a cinema.

The plans, submitted by the council as the landowner, would also see changes to the Market Hall car park, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The building, constructed in the 1970s, held the town's market until early 2021. It has since moved to the Newmarket building in Marlborough Square.

Led by Anotherkind Architects, the project would also see public toilet facilities created within the car park.

Planning documents prepared on behalf of the council state that the hall had suffered from a "lack of maintenance and is actively at risk of further structural deterioration without intervention".

The council said the project was a "heritage-led redevelopment" that would preserve the building's "distinctive architectural form" while giving it a face lift.

The project would effectively split the larger market hall into two independent buildings and demolish part of the flat roof, while the Market Hall car park would be slightly changed to handle visitors coming to the retail units or cinema, and for shoppers heading to the town centre.

ANPR cameras would also be installed in the car park as part of the project.

Previously, the council had looked at the possibility of a cinema on its former council offices in Whitwick Road, Coalville.

However, they have since been demolished and are set to be replaced with housing.

Meanwhile, Coalville's historic Rex cinema, in Jackson Street, was also eyed up as a potential cinema location.

The Rex, which has not screened films in more than 40 years, was most recently a Dunelm Mill store.

The plans have been submitted to council planning officers but a decision has yet to be made

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.