The building which once showcased the talents of Hollywood's finest is to be transformed into a self-storage unit.

The old Cineworld in Gloucester is to become a space focussed on providing a "stepping stone" for small businesses after plans were approved by the council.

It will bring new life to the cinema site at The Peel Centre which was state of the art when it opened and had several names through the years.

Once full of action, laughter and popcorn, it has sat empty since Cineworld closed in 2013 and relocated to Gloucester Quays.

Wilmslow-based company Flexiss Group Ltd has now been given the nod to turn the 29,500 sq ft site, into a self storage unit which can be accessed 24/7.

It plans to strip out the screens, seats and other furniture and create a storage space providing ancillary sales from a reception area with three permanent staff on site between 8am to 6pm.

Flexiss said although the self-storage building will be open 24/7, only limited visits are expected after 6pm when customers will use a keycard to access the facility via a roller door entrance.

It plans to market the site at SMEs based at home or in small offices that need space to grow.

A planning statement prepared by C4 Projects Ltd. on behalf of Flexiss said: "The flexible nature of the self-storage space supports the growth of SMEs at a very fragile stage during their development and acts as a stepping-stone to larger, more permanent, storage and office premises.

"This type of flexible accommodation is different to the more traditional storage/office premises that require long term lease arrangements and hence self-storage is becoming increasingly important in supporting local business start-ups and the invaluable contribution they make to economic growth."

The fast-growing company develops or refurbishes "4th generation stores" using the latest technology on behalf of investors.

It has already opened 17 sites and has a further 18 in various stages of planning and construction.

It set its sights on the former Cineworld building after plans to turn it into five retail units failed to be realised despite a lengthy search for tenants by Cushman & Wakefield.

In its application Fleiss said: "All efforts to find a new occupier have failed and the building has been vacant for a number of years.

"This application is necessary to enable the building to once more be put to beneficial use and to avoid it falling into disrepair."

The site, which is owned by Peel Land and Property Investments PLC, will continue to have access off St Ann Way through the retail park and use of its shared parking as well as nine dedicated spaces.

Flexiss said the change of use will be beneficial to the area by creating jobs and providing opportunities for small businesses to develop.

It said: "it has been shown in other live operational facilities that dozens of jobs can be facilitated within the SME sector etc.

"The new use will transform an existing building which has been left vacant and subject to criminal damage for a number of years into a facility to support the local community and economy."

Gloucester City Council approved the plans (23/00331/FUL) on August 4.