Pictures of Odeon faults are released (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Pictures of Odeon faults are released
7:46pm Monday 6th October 2008 in News By Will Kilner
A developer has released these images to support its claim that the former Odeon cinema building has developed “major structural defects”.
Langtree Artisan says it is not economically viable to refurbish the building and is seeking planning permission to replace it with a £55 million mixed-use development on the city centre site.
The new pictures appear to back up the findings of an independent structural survey carried out in June by Leeds engineering firm Ramboll Whitbybird.
The images show cracks to the facade of the towers, corrosion to steelwork within the towers and asbestos within the building.
Plans to replace the building with the New Victoria Place development of offices, apartments and a hotel have been exhibited to the public prior to a planning application being submitted on October 17.
When details of the structural survey were announced, David Rolinson, of Spawforths, the planning consultants to Langtree Artisan, said: “This highlights a number of major structural defects, which result in the building being economically unviable to refurbish.”
But campaigner Norman Littlewood, of Bradford Odeon Rescue Group, which opposes the building’s demolition, said: “All these so-called problems with the building are being over-rated.
“Cracking of terracotta blocks is common and occurs in the best of buildings. The blocks can be replaced.
“In terms of the steelwork, steel oxidises and rusting occurs on the surface. The surface rust protects the metal underneath and is not a defect.
“All the steel in that building is heavyweight and the walls are still strong.”
Borg has drawn up a rival plan, backed by Bradford businessman Nirmal Singh, to buy the disused Odeon building and turn it into a hotel, nightclub and cinema, retaining the twin towers and adding a third.
There have been six requests for the building to be listed, during which English Heritage has undertaken detailed investigations, but the Department for Culture Sport and Media has rejected each one.
A decision is expected soon on the appeal over the sixth failed listing application.
Comments(16)
REDERIC
says...
8:32pm Mon 6 Oct 08
This was once a lovely building now it would cost far too much money to bring it back to origanal state.
before somebody gets hurt pull this building down dont waste timedo it now and this time rebuild something in its place unlike you have done with the rest of this once great city
dazbot
says...
8:34pm Mon 6 Oct 08
REDERIC wrote:I agree, lets get rid and replace (as long as yorkshire forward put in the contract to start work immediately)
past this building a couple of weeks ago for the first time in a few years and i was shocked to see the state it was in
This was once a lovely building now it would cost far too much money to bring it back to origanal state.
before somebody gets hurt pull this building down dont waste timedo it now and this time rebuild something in its place unlike you have done with the rest of this once great city
albion
says...
9:26pm Mon 6 Oct 08
dazbot wrote:No chance.
REDERIC wrote:I agree, lets get rid and replace (as long as yorkshire forward put in the contract to start work immediately)
past this building a couple of weeks ago for the first time in a few years and i was shocked to see the state it was in
This was once a lovely building now it would cost far too much money to bring it back to origanal state.
before somebody gets hurt pull this building down dont waste timedo it now and this time rebuild something in its place unlike you have done with the rest of this once great city
Chris B
says...
9:45pm Mon 6 Oct 08
We in Bradford need to stop this building getting knocked down
They dont like this building because it dont fit the new image of Bradford that why they wont rid
MP
says...
9:56pm Mon 6 Oct 08
ava4
says...
10:36pm Mon 6 Oct 08
Yorkshire Forward has done naff all for Bradford apart from talk a lot, why would they? They have a stated aim to further develop Leeds and the rest of us can rot. Shame on the T&A, our local paper, for being used as free propoganda by them.
How about a bit of cutting edge, investigative journalism exposing why nothing is happening to re-generate our City and putting some pressure on the authorities and these unelected windbags?
amiedave
says...
12:45am Tue 7 Oct 08
mrs walker
says...
1:43am Tue 7 Oct 08
Why don't Yorkshire Forward/BCR let BORG and other interested parties do up the Odeon, and then we can have the new £55million multi-purpose Nat & Prov lookalike where the old police station is and then EVERYONE will be happy!
Well, nearly everyone....
consuelo
says...
2:18am Tue 7 Oct 08
RESTORATE THE PLACE INTO A LIVE MUSIC VENUE LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY HAS. DON'T START SPENDING TEDIOUS AMOUNTS OF OUR MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT WANT.
tyker
says...
8:46am Tue 7 Oct 08
Why has the t and a withdrawn commnets on stories and why does the t and a only allow certain stories to be subject to comment? censorship or what?
Cristos
says...
10:32am Tue 7 Oct 08
The general public should be demanding that a quote is got for repairing this building before any descision can be made (indepentant quote of course!)
timecmdr
says...
11:28am Tue 7 Oct 08
consuelo wrote:I Second this, The Beatles started their HELEN SHAPIRO TOUR PART 1, 1963 at this wonderful place. If we use it as a music venue again its bound to bring people back to the city.
Ha Ha Ha! Those images are simply a few of what is really quite evident. I Personally are one of the ones supporting BORG and numerous groups on the internet, i do not want this building to be knocked down, especially to make room for another useless hotel, i mean really... Who wants to stay in Hotels in Bradford? What with it's big hole where Forster Square used to be and what not, it's absolutely diabolical. After going to Manchester Apollo arena tonight, that reminds me a lot of the Gaumont really emphasised the potential of this Building, why knock down something that's not past restoration? Especially all the history that it witholds. This HUGE building could be a Live concert hall, Like Manchester Apollo & a variety hall, with inter-changable seats, AS the apollo does. It's rediculous that Yorkshire Forward, would even begin to think about investing in some crappy hotel in the middle of Bradford especially for 55MIL and when it's took them long enough to get started on Foster Square... and that's just the council. Leave it where it is, it's nicer to see something taking the space than another great hole.
RESTORATE THE PLACE INTO A LIVE MUSIC VENUE LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY HAS. DON'T START SPENDING TEDIOUS AMOUNTS OF OUR MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT WANT.
born n bred
says...
2:51pm Tue 7 Oct 08
neverthetwain
says...
6:06pm Tue 7 Oct 08
albion
says...
9:44pm Tue 7 Oct 08
neverthetwain wrote:The most likely replacement being a big hole.
This building was made of cheap material and looks horrible. just stand on thornton road and have a look at it, it doesnt look iconic at all. ANything that will replace it will be better than what is there at the moment.
Ian Dennis
says...
1:27pm Wed 8 Oct 08
of the debate. Stop living in the past and lets move this city forward.
Just look at all the people in the hug the odeon video- they're all pensioners. They're all living in the past. Let's get behind this, and stop falling even further behind the nearby cities.
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