Well, no, it's probably never going to be a full-time cinema or a bingo hall again, that I'll agree on.
But flats? Do we need more flats? Govan has acres and acres of derelict land to build those on without wrecking listed buildings to do it.
The interior of the Lyceum is pretty special in terms of what's left in 1930s cinemas in Scotland, even probably in a UK context. The same architects did similar streamlined interiors for their Ascot in Anniesland and the State in King's Park, but both of those have now been lost, leaving this as the only one. It's also the only one whose exterior matches those interiors. Inspiration came from the international modern movement, and construction was near contemporary with Tait's Exmpire Exhibition in nearby Bellahouston Park. One could even argue that there's a wee bit of Erich Mendelsson's Universum cinema of 1928 in Berlin:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wolf-rabe/3571436540/In short, facadism isn't an acceptable conservation solution for a building of this importance. We specifically requested that Historic Scotland strengthen the listing description when they did their thematic survey of cinemas in 2007-8 to reflect this, and to stress that the interior was just as important as the exterior.
Govan is rightly proud of its heritage, and preserving and celebrating that is an integral part of the masterplan. But it doesn't start with the hogbacks in the Old Parish church and end with the shipbuilding boom. Why not celebrate the fact that there's a 1930s streamline moderne masterpiece in Govan, with no equal in either Scotland or the Uk as a whole?
As for alternative uses, I have no easy answers, but would rather see it empty for a few more years than taking the decision to demolish now in the current climate because it'll provide a few temporary construction jobs or there's no money for an alternative scheme. I know of at least one very passionate chap who wants to use it as a museum of Scottish cinema and a demonstration venue for a widescreen process, but as ever, it all comes down to money. Who'd have thought that they would come up with an acceptable solution for the old Orkney St prison block, but they have. The whole area is being touted as a fledgling media centre, is it so far beyond the imagination to think that a building like the Lyceum might have some more sympathetic conservation solution related to that?
The
Bo'ness Hippodrome remained derelict and crumbling for 25 years before anyone came up with enough money and the political will to restore it. Had it been in Glasgow and Edinburgh, it would probably have long been condemned to demolition because there's an alarming tendency these days to rush through a "quick fix" solution in regeneration schemes. Once the Lyceum's interior is lost, it's lost - there are no more of these streamline McNair and Elder interiors left anywhere. Govan has already lost Napier house on our watch just last year, if the auditorium of the Lyceum goes too, then I think I'll just give all this stuff up, my faith in our custodianship of our built heritage will be irreparably damaged!