FOR MORE than 40 years it served the entertainment needs of Totton - first as a cinema and later as a bingo hall.

After being converted into a factory in the mid-1970s it provided much-needed jobs for two decades and now fulfils the equally important task of easing the housing shortage.

The former Savoy picture palace in Junction Road, Totton, has been at the heart of the local community since before the Second World War.

Now a proposal has been submitted to build homes on vacant land behind The Old Cinema, previously known as Savoy House, in Junction Road.

It follows an unsuccessful attempt to find a commercial use for the site.

The Savoy opened in 1935 and showed the latest releases until it closed as a cinema in 1961. After being used to stage other forms of entertainment it became a factory in 1977 and was later turned into flats.

In 2015 tenants were moved out of the council-owned flats following the discovery of structural faults, plus problems relating to fire safety and asbestos.

Roxan Homes bought the site the following year and made the building safe. The newly-refurbished property was renamed The Old Cinema and now provides 21 apartments for rent.

Roxan is seeking consent to build four two-bedroom flats behind The Old Cinema and a neighbouring hall used by Fairways School.

A previous plan to build five one and two-bedroom apartments on the site was rejected in September 2013.

The latest application says the land was marketed for eight months last year and every effort made to find someone who wanted to use the site for commercial purposes.

It adds: "Despite a proactive approach to all enquiries received the space remains available, with no serious or viable commercial interest. This is due to the lack of demand for retail in this location."

But concerns about proposals to build flats on the site have been raised by Totton and Eling Town Council.

A report to members of the planning committee said: "Although the principal of residential development on the site is reasonable, there are a number of concerns.

"No parking provision has been made - it seems as though the site would use parking for the The Old Cinema. The eight spaces provided for the two sites would fall well short of the provision needed for all 25 flats."

The application will be decided by New Forest District Council.