North Bay plans: The wait for new cinema goes on as Scarborough Council set to end its deal with Benchmark Leisure

The authority’s cabinet will meet on Tuesday next week where it will be asked to vote to not renew its deal for the Sands Development with Benchmark Leisure Limited when it expires on December 31.

Benchmark has been responsible for the £14 million Alpamare waterpark in North Bay, made possible by a £9 million loan from the council, and has also overseen the building of a pub (The Tunny Catch) and Premier Inn hotel on the same site.

However, long-running plans to build a cinema, restaurants and flats on the site of the former Atlantis waterpark nearby have repeatedly stalled since 2017.

Multiplex cinema for Scarborough's North Bay: We're ready to start building, say developers Benchmark Leisure

Following the end of the Benchmark deal, council officers will be instructed to undertake a review on the best way forward for the Atlantis and former Mr Marvel’s Amusement Park sites.

The council’s leader, Cllr Steve Siddons, has made no secret of his preference for a cinema located in the town centre, rather than in the North Bay.

A report prepared for the cabinet states that when the development agreement expires, Benchmark will keep its existing lease agreements for the sites that have been completed.

It states: “The expiry of the development agreement will not bring to an end Benchmark’s existing leases.

“Those parts of the Sands Development which have already been developed and drawn down by Benchmark will remain with Benchmark.

“The council will therefore have a continuing relationship with Benchmark through its long leases of the Beach Management Centre and chalets, the Marston’s pub and restaurant and hotel phase.

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“The council has retained the freehold interest of these developed sites in addition to the Waterpark. The supplemental agreement and thirty-five year lease with Benchmark relating to the [Alpamare] Water Park will also continue.

“On expiry of the development agreement Benchmark’s exclusivity in respect of the undeveloped parts of the Sands Development will lapse.

“Officers will speedily create a new vision and development programme to maximise the opportunity of regeneration development for the remaining sites at North Bay.

“As part of this report it is recommended that officers are authorised to undertake a full assessment of the options available and report back to cabinet.”

Cllr Siddons declined to comment when contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Benchmark Leisure Limited has been approached for a comment.