Partners involved in the transformation of Parkland Gateway in Corby are celebrating as work on the new cinema multiplex gets underway.
Mulberry Property Developments (MPD) have partnered with Savoy Cinemas on the construction project, which kicks off next week and will take around nine months to build.
The project is the latest phase in the transformation of the former Tresham College site which has seen Corby Borough Council and the Homes and Communications Agency (HCA) merge their land to provide a large-scale development opportunity for MPD and Savoy, enabling the building of the cinema and restaurants in the first phase of development and the potential for a hotel and new homes in future phases.
The cinema, when complete, will stand alongside other iconic buildings in the Parkland Gateway area including the Corby Cube and swimming pool, also projects delivered through the Council with support from the HCA.
Leader of Corby Borough Council, Cllr Tom Beattie, said: "We are very pleased to see that work on Corby’s brand new cinema will now start. This has been something that has been a priority to deliver to the people of Corby and we are excited to see the facility develop over the next 9 months, adding to the leisure offer on George Street.
"This new development will complement both the Corby East Midlands International Pool and Corby Cube which is home to the Core Theatre in Parkland Gateway, encourage further investment into the town centre, provide more local jobs and help create a wider evening economy for the Borough. We welcome Savoy Cinemas to Corby and look forward to watching the first of many premier showings".
Charles Amies, Executive Director for the HCA, Midlands said: "Corby is keen to prosper and grow, and our work over the years with the Borough Council and its partners has been to support this growth and use our land to accelerate development. We can boast many examples of this in Corby through our support to the Borough's transport interchange and railway station, our investment at Priors Hall which will see some 5000 new homes, businesses, schools and parkland delivered and in this latest project at Parkland Gateway. We know how important the cinema phase is for the Council and people in Corby and we are really pleased to have got to this stage.”
Scheduled to open in February 2015, the cinema complex will be capable of seating more than 900 people across six wall-to-wall screens in spacious, stadium seated auditoria. The cinema will be fully digital and fitted out with the latest audio-visual technology including the new immersive sound and3D capabilities that will showcase the very latest blockbusters in the height of luxury, comfort and style.
James Collington, Managing Director of Savoy Cinemas, said: “We intend to provide the people of Corby with the very best cinematic experience, from the picture quality right through to the seating and interior design.
“We’re excited to begin construction and now the exterior build is finalised and ready to go, we’re focussing on details of the interior. We plan to introduce some special touches unique to Savoy, including luxury double seats designed and manufactured in America, as well as the new immersive sound technology.”
Developer MPD has appointed construction company MCS Group Ltd to kick start the cinema build, which involves the construction of a shell that will house both the multiplex cinema and three national restaurant operators. The construction phase of the development will create nearly 100 jobs locally and a further 25 positions will be filled when the cinema launches.
Keir Edmonds, Managing Director of MCS Group, said: "We are delighted to have been selected for the construction of this iconic building. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be involved on a build that will undoubtedly become an anchor to Corby’s entertainment offering.”
