The developer behind plans for a new cinema and leisure village on the outskirts of Ely has unveiled its plans to the public for the first time.

Ely Standard: How the new leisure village and cinema development could lookHow the new leisure village and cinema development could look (Image: Archant)

Turnstone Estates is holding a public exhibition today (Tuesday) to showcase their plans for the proposed £15m leisure village adjacent to the Ely Outdoor Sports Association, which will include a six-screen, Cineworld-backed cinema.

And, alongside the cinema, the company hopes to build five restaurants, with three drive-thrus.

The exhibition is being held at Ely College, in Downham Road, from 3.30-8pm.

At the consultation, visitors will be asked to give their feedback on the plans, which will then be passed on to East Cambridgeshire District Council.

For those unable to attend, a website has also been launched which will show what is proposed and enable people to feed comments through directly to Turnstone Estates.

People will also be encouraged to give their views on Twitter, using the hashtag #newcinemaforely.

A spokesman for Turnstone said: “The intention is to combine a multiplex cinema and restaurants with the existing sporting uses - rugby, football, tennis, hockey and squash.

“The first phase of development is what Turnstone Estates are proposing to build. It is hoped that the cinema and restaurants could be ready to use by early 2016.

“If Turnstone Estates’ planning application is successful then, following its construction, East Cambridgeshire District Council is proposing to build a new swimming pool/leisure centre on adjacent land. This will be the second phase of development.”

Back in March, Turnstone entered the first stage of its plans to the district council in the shape of a ‘screening option’.

A screening option is a tool used by developers to see if a site requires a costly environmental impact assessment, whereby they would be obliged to assess and potentially mitigate the harmful environmental impact of the development.

But Turnstone was informed that it would not be required to carry out an assessment, which has paved the way for a full planning application to be submitted, expected to be by the end of the summer.