New plans have been submitted to convert a town’s century-old former cinema and nightclub into social housing apartments.

Updated plans include increasing the number of properties inside Castleford’s “eyesore” Picture House building.

Wakefield Council previously granted permission for 25 apartments to be built at the Station Road property in 2022 after it was bought at auction by developers.

But the building continues to remain unoccupied since it was the target of a suspected arson attack in 2017.

Castleford's Picture House has been empty and in a neglected state since it was the target of a suspected arson attack in 2017.

placeholder image — Castleford's Picture House has been empty and in a neglected state since it was the target of a suspected arson attack in 2017.

Updated plans have this week been put forward by a new company to increase the number of dwellings to 37.

Documents submitted by Yorkshire Picture House Limited said the “end user” of the scheme would be social housing provider Vico Homes, previously Wakefield District Housing.

A planning statement said: “The building has become an eyesore and it significantly detracts from the vitality of the town centre in its current condition.

“The dwellings have been designed to give very good standards of housing amenity.”

The proposals include providing gym and cinema facilities for residents when the building is fully renovated.

The document adds: “The size of rooms proposed is very generous for this type of housing. All living spaces have very good levels of natural light and outlook.

“The building was damaged by fire several years ago and it has become neglected. “The regeneration scheme will vastly improve its appearance and will secure the long-term future of this iconic building.”

The original scheme also included three commercial units on the ground, including offices for an estate agent and a coffee shop.

The new plan includes reducing the number of commercial premises to one.

The statement added: “The proposal would breathe much needed new life into this important and historic building. It would deliver much needed new housing and commercial space that is wholly appropriate for this town centre location.

“The proposed development would completely reverse this and would restore the building to being one of the best assets in the town centre, contributing positively to its vitality once again.”

The Picture House, which opened in 1921, was a luxury cinema and theatre for more than four decades.

The cinema seated up to 1,200 people and also had a ballroom and stage facilities. Following its closure in 1964, the building was run as a restaurant, bingo hall, café bar, pub and nightclub.