Development plans for an empty Grade II listed cinema have stalled, as the owners cannot find a business to fill it.

Despite a determined fight from conservation groups, Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee voted in favour of knocking down The Astoria in Gloucester Place, Brighton.

Yet nearly two years on, the 1930s art deco venue, which has been vacant since 1997, remains standing.

With the building up for sale, owner and Hove-based businessman Mike Holland has confirmed he is going back to the local authority for new planning permission.

Mr Holland said: “After seeking professional advice from people like Graves Jenkins, we’re going back to the council and talking about redrawing the planning as it does not really stack up at the moment.

“The façade of it I really like but I think we can free up more space behind it.

“What Brighton and Hove lacks is really high quality office space.

“I’d like to think we could sort it out in the next 12 months but it depends on the local authority.”

The Astoria opened as a cinema on December 21, 1933.

It stopped showing films in 1977 and was then used as a bingo hall.

Since 1997 it has stood vacant and deteriorating, despite a number of groups trying to bring it back into use.

Mr Holland bought the site for £2.2 million in November 2007.

The approved planning permission was to create a six-storey office development with space for 170 jobs, as well as a café and community rooms.

Since then, the site has been put on the market reportedly for more than £6 million.

Mr Holland said: “There’s no point starting work unless we can find people to fill it.

“How many companies are coming to Brighton and Hove in the current economic climate?

“I’d love to think there were a number of them but it’s just not happening.

“We have to try to work with the people that we have here.”

Tony Mernagh, of Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said: “I was surprised when it was put on the market as I thought Mr Holland would build it.

“It would be nice to see that building developed as per the planning consent.

“There’s certainly demand for it in the city.”