A CONTROVERSIAL £35m redevelopment of Nottingham's former

Odeon Cinema has been described as having the "quirky" look of

San Francisco about it.

Moore Herbert and Moore want to create an office complex

with buildings between four and 11 storeys high stretching from

Angel Row to Maid Marian Way.

City planners who met yesterday to discuss the proposal said

the scheme was an improvement on previous designs.

Coun Cat Arnold said: "I think it is a very attractive,

quirky, funky building. It is the kind of building you would be

more likely to find in San Francisco than Nottingham."

The development would overlook Bromley House Library, and in

a letter to the council librarian Carol Barstow said it did not

enhance the area.

She said: "These proposals will have an irreversible and

damaging effect on our property and its garden.

"They are so out of proportion to neighbouring properties

that in no sense can the new building be considered

appropriate."

Some councillors criticised the scheme for the impact it

would have on views of the city centre.

Tory councillor Dick Benson said: "The view which you would

have from Long Row looks absolutely awful."

A decision on the application is set to be made later.

The Odeon Cinema closed in 2001 and has been empty ever

since. A bid to turn the site into an 18-storey hotel was

abandoned last year after it ran into opposition from

campaigners at Bromley House.