Bath’s landmark former Scala cinema could be given a new lease of life if ambitious plans drawn up by city-based property developer Rengen are approved.
The firm, which has been behind a number of high-profile redevelopments in Bath, wants to regenerate the building, pictured, in Oldfield Park into apartments as well as improving the accommodation now used by occupiers the Co-op – which operates a convenience store at the front – and dance studio Freedom through Dance. 
The Scala building opened as a cinema in the 1920s but closed in 1960. It became a Co-op store two years later and has continued to serve people in Oldfield Park since.
Under Rengen’s plans, which have been drawn up over recent years and have now been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council, the building’s historic frontage will be retained while redeveloping the 1960s extension at the rear, including 32 residential units – 10 as accessible, affordable housing units, improved landscaping and parking.
Purpose-built student accommodation is also included in the scheme. Rengen has been in discussions with Bath’s world-famous Norland College, which trains nannies for royalty and the rich and famous, to use the accommodation to house its students.
Rengen – a subsidiary of Bristol property group Iesis – was launched in 2007 by chief executive officer Iestyn Lewis, who has a background in development and consultancy and experience in a variety of sectors such as fund monitoring, risk management, residential, student, hotel, office, retail and infrastructure.
The firm is best known in Bath for transforming the city’s former Labour Exchange building on James Street West into a mixed-use scheme with 78 student rooms over three new floors and 4,000 sq ft of commercial space on the ground floor.
It has also completed projects at Widcombe Social Club and the Bath Sea Cadets headquarters on St John’s Road.
Mr Lewis said: “I am proud of Rengen’s portfolio of sensitive and sympathetic redevelopment projects throughout Bath and we’re excited to submit our planning application for the much-loved Scala building.
“If approved, this project will bring a new lease of life to the building and retain the fantastic frontage which is something of a local landmark in Oldfield Park.”
