A once stunning art deco cinema looks set to be sold to a property developer for £1.
The derelict Vogue in Hamilton will be partially demolished and turned into flats after years of neglect.
South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) was expected to approve the sale to Clyde Valley Housing Association if plans are approved by the executive committee yesterday.
Plans for 23 homes are currently being drawn up, with developers set to retain the listed facade, which will be used as the entrance to the flats.
In recent years, the building has been "a challenge to maintain" following the demolition of the auditorium in 2008 while the facade had to be stabilised in 2012 to save it from collapse.
Originally home to the La Scala cinema built in the 1920s, the site has been unoccupied since 1997 when the bingo hall closed.
SLC took over the site in 1998 as part of a "land consolidation exercise" and several plans were mooted including the creation of an arts centre, however, none of these came to fruition.
Funding totalling £440,000 from phase one and two of the Scottish Government's Town Centre Capital Grants Fund has been awarded to Clyde Valley HA, which will enable a five-storey development of one and two-bedroom homes.
In a report due to go before the committee, executive director for community and enterprise Micheal McGlynn said: "In October 2018, a public consultation was carried out which identified the Vogue site as being a priority for redevelopment.
"It was highlighted that while redevelopment of the site, as a whole, is the priority, there was a strong desire to retain the existing facade given its listed status and local heritage.
"Since funding was allocated to this project in September 2019, considerable work has been undertaken by Clyde Valley HA and their design team to develop proposals that are now sufficiently detailed to commence discussion with the planning service with a view to submitting planning and listed building applications for consideration and reporting to the planning committee in due course."
Work on the site could begin as early as the summer with construction expected to be complete by late 2022
Funding was originally awarded in September 2019 towards a £3.2 million makeover which would have seen a mix of residential and commercial developments but following the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic downturn, plans for commercial premises were dropped.
Clyde Valley HA were also awarded £300,000 from the Town Centre Capital Grants Fund to part-fund a £3.4 million project to build 23 flats on the site of the former Press Buildings in Hamilton.
