Expansion and revamp of Athlone IMC Cinema still on the cards

An expansion and revamp of Athlone's IMC Cinema, which was first mooted several years ago, remains a live possibility with the developer of the project saying it's hoped work could begin later this year.

The proposed redevelopment of the six-screen cinema in order to provide a "luxury" experience for customers was granted planning permission in 2019.

The project involves four additional screens being installed, along with the construction of a new restaurant unit that would adjoin the extended cinema building.

Planning permission for the work is due to expire on September 10 this year, and an application to extend it by a further four years was lodged last week by Cinema Properties Ltd, with an address in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.

The request for the four-year planning extension said it was hoped work would start in September of this year, subject to consent being received from certain tenants in the Golden Island Shopping Centre.

The developer added that the project was expected to be fully completed by February of 2027.

A letter to Westmeath County Council from Paul Ward, a director of Cinema Properties Ltd, outlined reasons why work on the cinema redevelopment had not been carried out since planning permission was awarded.

Mr Ward stated that "the Covid pandemic, in effect, resulted in circa 2.5 years being lost".

In addition, he wrote, "As the cinema is an operator in a busy shopping centre there are other tenants in the overall scheme who must consent to the development works.

"We have been advised the majority of tenant consents have been obtained at this stage and that the final consent should be obtained by the shopping centre owner shortly.

"These two factors are outside of the control of the applicant and it is for these reasons, and the fact it is a complex build, I would hope a planning extension would be agreed," he concluded.

The plans for the cinema redevelopment included the installation of new, large-format seating. This would mean that, even though the cinema would have four extra screens, its total number of seats would remain the same as today (821).

A report submitted as part of the original planning application said the work would allow for "a greater film offering and alternative content such as Met Opera Live, etc.

"In addition, Galactic screens (large-format screens) and VIP screens will enhance the customer offering," it said.

Some 30 car parking spaces are due to be removed to make way for the cinema expansion, with 33 new spaces being created instead in a former loading bay to the south of the existing car park.

The new restaurant which is planned as part of the cinema development would be managed by the owners of the Golden Island Shopping Centre, and planning documents stated that no specific tenant had been identified for it.

Initial planning approval was granted by Westmeath County Council in May 2019, but this was then appealed to An Bord Pleanála on behalf of Burger King.

The appeal argued that a re-alignment of the car park would restrict access by delivery trucks to the service yard located behind the Burger King restaurant in Golden Island.

It said its delivery trucks and vans would be forced to stop in the car park area, resulting in obstructions to traffic, and goods having to be "hand-delivered over long distances."

An Bord Pleanála turned down the appeal, in September 2019, but imposed some new development conditions on Cinema Properties Ltd.