Plans to redevelop the former cinema building in Ringwood

Halo Developments is preparing to submit a formal planning application to re-develop the former Regal Cinema in Ringwood’s Market Place.

The project, titled ‘The Corn Exchange’, involves a refurbishment and the construction of a rear and roof extension to create commercial floorspace and residential units.

The building at 2 Market Place has stood empty for more than 15 years, but is remembered for its old uses as a cinema, bingo hall, shopping centre, squash courts and a nightclub.

Eddie Hill, managing director at Halo Developments, said: “The building has been sat empty for years.

“We’re here to put it back into use, because a building that isn’t put to use dies.”

CGI of the proposed development (Image: Halo Developments)

Halo Developments, which has on office in Meeting House Lane, purchased the former cinema in July of this year.

The building is currently boarded up and is described as being in a “pretty poor state”, although the structure is intact.

Eddie, from Ringwood himself, said: “We’re keeping the structure but there’s an extension at the back which we’re taking down.

“On the ground floor we’ve got around 450 square metres of commercial space which we’re marketing with Savills.

“We started marketing with Savills prior to getting the drawings together because we wanted to gage how much space we needed for commercial on the ground floor.

“We’re looking at various different uses - whether there’s one occupier or four.”

Inside the former Regal Cinema in Ringwood’s Market Place (Image: NQ)

As for residential space, the scheme is set to comprise of 20 ‘high quality residential units’ with a mix of one and two beds.

Halo Developments has shared the plans with Ringwood Town Council, and is in the process of carrying out a public consultation.

The company hopes to submit a formal planning application by the end of the week.

Eddie said: “We are hoping it will go through quite quickly, because we’re not doing anything that hasn’t already been consented to as such.

"It's just one of those things that needs tackling."

For more information about the development contact cornexchange@halodev.co.uk