Student accommodation planned for former cinema

A 19th century Bristol building which has previously been used as a cinema and nightclub could be redeveloped to offer accommodation for almost 100 students and a retail unit.Pegasus Group, on behalf of applicant McLaren Property, has submitted an application to Bristol City Council for 13-21 Baldwin Street, a locally-listed building.The property was originally built as a theatre in 1892 known as the ‘People’s Palace’. It was turned into a cinema in 1912 and substantially rebuilt in 1928.When the Gaumont Cinema ceased operation in 1980 and the building was converted to a nightclub and last traded as the Sports Café prior to its closure in 2007.Under the new proposals, designed by architects’ practice Stride Treglown, the majority of the existing building will be demolished, with the façade retained and adapted.A five-storey block will be constructed featuring 93 studio apartments for students and a 3,000 sq ft ground floor retail unit.The plans were amended from the originally proposed six storeys and 97 bedrooms following a consultation at the end of 2016.A similar application for student accommodation and flexible bar and restaurant use on the ground floor was granted planning consent in 2012. The new scheme proposes a “more sensitive adaptation of the façade”, a slight increase in the number of flats, removal of the basement level and provision of a retail unit instead of bar/restaurant use.