A MULTIPLEX cinema development in the heart of Lancaster is expected to be given the go-ahead at a planning meeting next week.

The six-screen cinema plus shopping and residential units will be built at the Old Brewery site off Church Street.

Planning officers have described the development as "the most important and significant in the city centre in recent years" and they claim that it will "enhance and preserve the character of the conservation area."

The cinemas will offer a total of 1,539 seats and one of the retails units is expected to be a restaurant or bar.

Lancaster Civic Society claim that the bus station in Damside Street would be a more suitable site, Transport 2000 have applauded the city centre location but there have been concerns expressed about heavy trucks using the newly pedestrianised surface on Church Street.

Other planning issues to be discussed at the meeting on Monday include ground improvements at Lancaster City's ground the Giant Axe, the proposed gypsy retirement site on Nelson Street close to Lancaster Town Hall and accommodation for 70 students in Penny Street.

A number of residents close the the Giant Axe have complained that the football club has cleared away land to make a car park without proper planning permission but officers have recommend that permission be granted to "regularise" the situation.

Officers have asked members to throw out plans for a gypsy site at the former council offices on Nelson Street claiming the development is unsuitable.

And the 13 self-contained student flats on Penny Street look like being granted permission after officers declared that it would be difficult to refuse on architectural grounds alone.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.