A DEVELOPER will start work on refurbishing an “iconic” Bradford building “as soon as possible” after being given the go ahead by Bradford Council.

Plans to turn the former Maestro’s nightclub on Manningham Lane into a wedding, banqueting and conference facility were approved at a meeting of the Bradford Area Planning Panel yesterday.

And after the meeting the developer behind the scheme told the Telegraph & Argus that work to refurbish the building will start imminently.

As well as Maestro’s, 110 Manningham Lane has gone by names including the Mecca, Maestro’s, Dollars and Dimes, Pennington’s Live and most recently the Town & Country Club during its illustrious past.

Once one of the most popular nightclubs and music venues in Yorkshire, it has hosted artists including Belinda Carlisle, Human League, David Essex, and Chuck Berry. But it has been empty for over a decade.

The panel, meeting in Bradford City Hall, heard from applicants S&A Developments, who said the development would include 81 parking spaces, both behind the club and in a neighbouring car park. The venue could accommodate 600 people.

There had been a number of objections to the plans, with some neighbouring residents raising the issue of noise and disturbance relating to the new use.

However planning officers told the panel that the building still had permission to operate as a nightclub, and the new use’s proposed 11pm closing time would be a lot earlier than when it was a nightclub.

They also said it was in a “highly sustainable” location, with good transport links and other car parks nearby.

Councillor Mark Shaw, (Cons, Bingley) said: “Anything they do with it will be an improvement for the area.”

Councillor Brendan Stubbs (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said: “This is a gateway to the city, and this building has looked horrible for ages. This will create jobs and bring a bit more life into that part of the city.”

The committee unanimously approved the application. Chair Coun Shabir Hussain (Lab, Manningham) told the applicants: “We wish you the best, and hope you can get this done as soon as possible. It can be a lovely building again.”

After the meeting Mr Singh from S&A Developments, said: “We’re going to commence work ASAP. I’ve already got builders lined up so we can get things started straight away.

“We’ve invested a lot in this site, and hopefully we’ll be able to open within about six months. The building is in a good state, we just want to do a really solid re-vamp for the inside.

“It is an iconic building, everyone knows Maestro’s, so we want to bring the building back to use, help with the regeneration of the city, create more jobs and get more people coming into Bradford.”