CONTROVERSIAL plans for an expanded cinema at York's Monks Cross have been given the go-ahead.

City of York Council's planning committee backed the bigger multiplex on Wednesday night after officers assured members they were entitled to determine the amended scheme, despite warnings by rival cinema Reel it might take the matter to court if they did so.

Reel argued the scheme, which includes a 13th screen and 400 additional seats, could threaten its viability and could not reasonably be described as a “minor” design amendment, but officers said it was not a fundamental change which warranted a new planning application.

Independent councillor Mark Warters raised concerns about the high potential cost to the authority if the matter was taken to judicial review but failed in a call for councillors to vote on whether they should determine the plan, with committee chair Ann Reid saying it was a procedural matter for officers to determine.

The Press has reported previously how any delay in granting developers Wrenbridge Sport York Ltd consent for the enlarged cinema could cause a knock-on delay for construction of the adjacent community stadium, which is currently scheduled for completion in time for York City to start playing there in September 2018.

Green councillor Andy D'Agorne said he was disappointed by the cinema design, which he said 'looks like something BT might have designed in the 1970s.'

He also raised concerns about the visual impact of the lightbox on top of the cinema, which will be 29 metres high - four metres higher than originally planned. But his proposal to restrict the height of the illuminated part of the lightbox was rejected by members.

Cllr Reid said the cinema would be built to the same design as was originally granted permission. "Yes, it's bigger but that won't make it any different," she said.

Councillors welcomed the use of a cherry picker during their site visit to illustrate how high the cinema would stand after being raised by 2.5 metres to 23.5 metres, more than double the height of nearby Vangarde stores.

The committee agreed to refer the application to the Secretary of State and, should the Minister decide not to call it in, grant conditional approval.