A PROPOSAL to build 23 new homes at the back of Worcester's Northwick Cinema has been described as "inappropriate" and recommended for refusal.

Planning officers at the city council say the plan for the dilapidated cinema, which includes a change of use of the Grade II Listed building, from leisure to retail would mean inadequate car parking and harm the character of Coombs Road.

The plan, which proposes that the units be split into two blocks, each three storeys high with one fronting Coombs Road, also includes two small retail units at the front of the cinema with the rest of the auditorium being used as a single retail unit.

The report on the Ombersley Road cinema, prepared by planning officer Paul O'Connor, says: "The proposal fails to address the need to balance the conservation gain with any retail use. It fails to safeguard the long-term viability of the retail use by removing its car park.

"It severely damages the likelihood of an appropriate alternative use being found for the building.

"It fails to address the issues of highway safety and, ultimately, severely harms the future use of the listed building.

"In such circumstances I consider the proposal to be unacceptable."

The previous owner, Ian Perks, sold the Northwick Cinema, which was built in 1938, in February of this year.

The building boasts an Art Deco interior and the last intact works by designer John Alexander.

It was a bingo hall from 1966 to 1982 but then stood empty until 1991 when Mr Perks turned it in to a live music venue. It finally closed in 1996.