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Cine boss in appeal bid

8/ 9/2008

A PROPERTY developer has warned that the council’s decision to refuse his latest plans for the Cine City site could end up costing taxpayers up to £50,000.

Mohammed Jamil, of the Britannia Property Group, has said he plans to take the decision to an appeal as he looks to replace the former cinema, which was demolished earlier this year.

He wants to create a six-storey luxury apartment and retail development on the site, which is in the Withington conservation area.

At the hearing, councillors were told by Manchester City Council’s head of planning Peter Babb that if they were to reject the plan it could be overturned on appeal - and that the council would be liable for the costs.

He wrote: "The scheme is such that [if it were refused] any appeal against the decision would be difficult to sustain."

However, the committee voted to reject the plans on the grounds that it would have an unacceptable impact on the conservation area.

Mr Jamil said: "This matter has now been referred by us to the Secretary of State as a Planning Appeal and we await the outcome which is highly likely to be in our favour.

"Sadly though for everyone as tax payers, it will be yet another clear waste of public money - likely to be as much as £50,000." Mr Jamil already has permission for a similar scheme for site, which was granted in 2003, but he says he drew up new plans to "accommodate the wishes of councillors and community groups".

He now favours the newer design, which is half a metre lower than the original plan, but it has been rejected by planners on a number of occasions.

The former cinema opened in 1912 as The Scala.

It later became Cine City and continued to show films until 2001, making it the third longest running cinema at the time.

Mr Jamil said: "This new plan is a much better building, and as it has been recommended by the planning officers several times we are 95 per cent certain we will win."

Labour councillor Andrew Fender is a representative for the Old Moat Ward which covers the former Cine City site. He is on the planning committee and had objected to the plans.

He said: "I am pleased the plans have been rejected. It is not necessarily the case that Mr Jamil would win the appeal, but that is a matter for the Secretary of State."

Fallowfield Labour councillor Peter Morrison, who is also on the planning committee, said: "The vote was taken on the merits of the case."