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'We'll give Odeon plan six months'
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| An architect's impression of how the BORG plan would look, retaining the twin towers and including a hotel and concert venue |
Campaigners fighting to save the former Odeon cinema building in Bradford city centre from demolition have given themselves a deadline of six months to push through their scheme for its restoration - or they will then throw in the towel.
Plans which include a 2,200-seat restored auditorium, a restored ballroom, a three-star hotel with bars and restaurant and a third dome have been revealed by the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group (BORG).
The group now hope to have the scheme in total order before applying for planning permission within six months.
BORG member John Pennington told the Telegraph & Argus: "We have been asked to come up with plans and that is what we have done.
"We have asked Margaret Hodge at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for a six months' stay of execution.
"If we have not got everything sorted and approved in that time then they can pull it down."
The plans, which also incorporate a 700-capacity nightclub and parking for more than 200 cars, were drawn up by Harrogate-based architects and designers, SDA Jackson Calvert.
The 77-year-old landmark has been earmarked for demolition as part of Bradford Centre Regeneration's £55m development in the city centre.
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| John Pennington |
Work on the former cinema is currently on hold until the DCMS decides the outcome of an application to English Heritage for the building to be listed.
Plans from BORG, however, could see the building used as a concert hall, nightclub and cinema, as well as a 132-bedroom hotel with links to the Alhambra theatre.
BORG chairman Norman Littlewood said: "These are not just pretty pictures - our concept works.
"The reproduction of a third dome on Thornton Road elevation gives the building even greater majesty.
"Forget tier upon tier of bureaucracy. Let the people show what they can do.
"This is a challenge to relish. Let's have some good news to put the heart back into Bradford."
Mr Pennington said a national car park company and hotelier had shown interest in becoming involved in the plans.
He said he had told Mrs Hodge that if the building is listed he will spend six months finalising plans, arranging funding and securing tenants.
He said: "We do not know how much this is going to cost yet.
"This is just a suggestion - it now has to go back to the drawing board and all the fine details need to be made.
"The wonderful thing about the auditorium is that there is room to have things such as boxing and there has been talk of snooker, as well as other entertainment.
"On the ground floor there will be a nightclub, which can be used not only as a nightclub but also a venue for bands."
BORG member Michael Bottomley said: "The authorities have always maintained the building has no future without a viable plan.
"Eight ordinary Bradford- ians have now produced one without even being allowed entry into the building."
Mr Pennington added: "This work should have been done by the regeneration company but all they want to do is demolish it.
"It is important that we do not lose an opportunity for a much loved building to become the focus for community cohesion in Bradford.
"We need to get people to want to come back into Bradford and this is one way we can do that."
e-mail: james.rush@telegraphandargus.co.uk
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7:38am Monday 24th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: mrs walker, round here on 10:01am Mon 24 Mar 08
Brilliant. If it gets the go ahead, set up a Friends of the Odeon Regeneration Trust. I'll put some money in (- and I won't even want preferential treatment at the bar!)
Brilliant. If it gets the go ahead, set up a Friends of the Odeon Regeneration Trust. I'll put some money in (- and I won't even want preferential treatment at the bar!)
Posted by: Darryl, BD2 on 10:13am Mon 24 Mar 08
Fantastic news, well done BORG, I'd back this scheme all the way as a viable multi-use building in the heart of the city, Bradford Regen and planners HAVE to listen to the public and must know when their own plans are unwanted. Don't make Bradford look like every other city, utilise the unique buildings we already have.
Fantastic news, well done BORG, I'd back this scheme all the way as a viable multi-use building in the heart of the city, Bradford Regen and planners HAVE to listen to the public and must know when their own plans are unwanted. Don't make Bradford look like every other city, utilise the unique buildings we already have.
Posted by: albion, west riding on 11:01am Mon 24 Mar 08
[quote][bold]mrs walker[/bold] wrote:
Brilliant. If it gets the go ahead, set up a Friends of the Odeon Regeneration Trust. I'll put some money in (- and I won't even want preferential treatment at the bar!)[/quote] Get yer hoop skirt and bobbi sox ready.
mrs walker wrote:
Brilliant. If it gets the go ahead, set up a Friends of the Odeon Regeneration Trust. I'll put some money in (- and I won't even want preferential treatment at the bar!)
Get yer hoop skirt and bobbi sox ready.
Posted by: cunni1, bradford on 12:23pm Mon 24 Mar 08
**** right! It's about time someone with common sense took control.
**** right! It's about time someone with common sense took control.
Posted by: Odeon Crusader, Bradford on 12:55pm Mon 24 Mar 08
Thank goodness the T&A has seen sense and published this news story - better late than never, eh?
All the same, there will be more public support for BORG's scheme than BCR could ever hope for with New Victoria Place. Regardless of what the listing decision may or may not be, Yorkshire Forward's Jan Anderson publicly said at the BCR Question Time last month that if anyone wanted to take The Odeon off their hands, they's be happy to sell it. Therefore, Yorkshire Forward should honour that intention by selling off the Odeon and its adjacent rear land (at a reasonable price!) to the developers that Mr Pennington is in dialogue with without any further delay.
Its a tremendous pity that it has taken so long for something to look like it is finally happening with the Odeon and despite the millions ploughed into BCR, at the end of the day 8 members of the public are on the verge of delivering the first real signs of regeneration in Bradford!!!
Bravo to BORG!
Thank goodness the T&A has seen sense and published this news story - better late than never, eh?
All the same, there will be more public support for BORG's scheme than BCR could ever hope for with New Victoria Place. Regardless of what the listing decision may or may not be, Yorkshire Forward's Jan Anderson publicly said at the BCR Question Time last month that if anyone wanted to take The Odeon off their hands, they's be happy to sell it. Therefore, Yorkshire Forward should honour that intention by selling off the Odeon and its adjacent rear land (at a reasonable price!) to the developers that Mr Pennington is in dialogue with without any further delay.
Its a tremendous pity that it has taken so long for something to look like it is finally happening with the Odeon and despite the millions ploughed into BCR, at the end of the day 8 members of the public are on the verge of delivering the first real signs of regeneration in Bradford!!!
Bravo to BORG!
Posted by: exbradfordian, cumbria on 2:10pm Mon 24 Mar 08
Am I missing something here? I seem to remember that the public has already voted on a new building called Victoria Palace. What is going off?
Am I missing something here? I seem to remember that the public has already voted on a new building called Victoria Palace. What is going off?
Posted by: Odeon Crusader, Bradford on 3:10pm Mon 24 Mar 08
exbradfordian, you are indeed missing something here! The people of Bradford have never been presented with a scheme that retains the existing building... until now.
BCR presented three replacement building proposals to the people of Bradford under the guise of a "public consultation" in 2006. Although BCR said it wasn't an opportunity to vote as such, the public actually expressed an overwhelmingly stronger preference for a scheme called Casa Mela, which planned to retain the towers. BCR (true to form) chose to ignore the public's preference for Casa Mela and opted for New Victoria Place instead, which had generated about a third of the support that Casa Mela had.
The public had therefore not "voted" for NVP...
exbradfordian, you are indeed missing something here! The people of Bradford have never been presented with a scheme that retains the existing building... until now.
BCR presented three replacement building proposals to the people of Bradford under the guise of a "public consultation" in 2006. Although BCR said it wasn't an opportunity to vote as such, the public actually expressed an overwhelmingly stronger preference for a scheme called Casa Mela, which planned to retain the towers. BCR (true to form) chose to ignore the public's preference for Casa Mela and opted for New Victoria Place instead, which had generated about a third of the support that Casa Mela had.
The public had therefore not "voted" for NVP...
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