A CONTRACTOR has been appointed to build a £4.1million cinema project in Bradford city centre.

Robertson Yorkshire and East Midlands, part of the £450m turnover infrastructure group Robertson, has been appointed by Meyer Bergman for the construction of a state-of-the-art cinema at Bradford’s Broadway shopping centre.

The scheme on Broadway involves transforming an existing row of shops into a boutique cinema, restaurants and cafes.

It will be operated by The Light as a six-screen, 780-seat cinema, and with the addition of four restaurants and a cafe, will add 35,000 sq ft to the shopping centre development.

Work started to clear the area for construction in August last year, with the development scheduled for completion in the autumn or winter this year.

All the remaining structure, external walls, roofs, internal walls, doors, ceilings, fittings and finishes have since been removed.

The wider scheme will also include four restaurants, adding 40,000 square feet to the development in total.

Paul Turner, regional managing director of Robertson Yorkshire and East Midlands, said: “This project is a continuation of the great work that has already taken place to regenerate Bradford’s city centre and further enhance the leisure offer in the city.

“We’re excited to commence work on the site and from a business perspective, continue to grow our reputation in the region.”

Bradford Council granted detailed planning consent to the project in March last year.

The cinema and restaurant development covers 16 to 20 Broadway, shop units which used to house Burger King, Game, DKZ children’s clothing store, Superdrug and an HMV store before it transferred to the Broadway.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen confirmed last December it has signed off on one of the four restaurant sites within the new development.

The chain has also applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 10am to midnight seven days a week, and to play music and serve late night refreshments until half past midnight each day.