Aylesbury's old Odeon to be demolished in next few months

The old Odeon cinema in Cambridge Street, Aylesbury (pic taken 2013)

Churchill Retirement Living confirmed construction work will start in summer 2016 and is scheduled for completion in 2017, with the first owners moving in winter 2017/spring 2018.

The historic cinema, which was built in the art deco style, was a popular venue for movie goers but closed in 1999 after the new cinema opened in Exchange Street.

It is now in a state of disrepair.

Permission to build the retirement flats was granted in 2014 as part of Sainsbury’s redevelopment plans (at the time the supermarket giant owned the old Odeon, but it has now been acquired by Churchill).

Sainsbury’s proposals included the refurbishment of its store in Buckingham Street alongside a huge new supermarket in Gatehouse Road.

However, no work has so far materialised.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman would only say: “Our store developments in Aylesbury are part of an ongoing review, and so there is no update.

Bucks Herald copy - June 25th 1937 - Opening of the Odeon Cinema in Cambridge Street, Aylesbury

“As soon as there is one, we will let the community know.”

Greg Hilton, Churchill Retirement Living’s regional managing director, said: “The Churchill development in Aylesbury will be made up of 49 one and two bedroomed apartments and will provide attractive, high quality, self-contained apartments in landscaped grounds.”