The design is expected to be controversial

The city council voted unanimously for the structure - designed by architects from Bath - at a meeting on Tuesday.

The new building in the Market Place will feature a three-screen cinema, galleries and film-making facilities.

The consortium behind the plan is made up of the Metro Cinema, Q-Arts, the Media Archive for Central England (MACE) and the city council.

Comments wanted

Michael Say, the chairman of Metro Cinema assured those who used the square they were well aware of people's concerns about the controversial design.

He said: "There are naturally concerns, the general look of it, as it needs to complement what is already in the square.

"That concern is one of the factors we will be taking forward into the next stage of the process."

Councillors have already said the design is not yet set in stone and comments will be listened to.