MYSTERY surrounds the future of the former Odeon cinema on London Road which has now lain dormant for more than seven years, prompting calls for action from councillors.

Former owner Heritage Group confirmed this week that it had recently sold it on to new owners thus ending any involvement it had with the building.

Property surveyors Lambert Smith Hampton this week refused to disclose who had bought the building.

Heritage Group received joint planning permission in 2000 to turn the 1930's building into offices and to develop social housing on the car park opposite under a Section 106 agreement.

But planning portfolio holder Chris Whiteside said that there have been "no official or unofficial planning applications from the new owners" leading to speculation that the much-needed affordable housing might never materialise.

And concerns are now growing that the longer the Odeon building remains empty any structural frailties could worsen, leading to demolition.

Remedial work was carried out on the building's facade in summer last year after chunks of masonry reportedly started falling off but nothing has been done since, leaving it with a badly scarred appearance.

Councillor Helen Ives-Rose described it as an "eyesore".

She said: "There is a planning condition on the building which states that its original Art Deco exterior must be retained and the owners at the time did carry out repairs but nothing has happened since then.

"I would be so much happier if something could be done sooner rather than later. The residents of Lower Paxton Road have lived in the shadow of this derelict building for too long now."

Councillor Ives-Rose said new owner was entitled to submit new applications but until it does there is no way of knowing what its intentions are.

She added: "The cinema is just one part of the problem with London Road. The Godfrey Davis site has been empty for 15 years now as well. Both these sites badly need proper development."