MP calls for a penalty clause to ensure prompt start (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

MP calls for a penalty clause to ensure prompt start

1:30pm Sunday 23rd August 2009 in

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Government Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has called for strict penalty clauses to be attached to any development of the former Odeon site to ensure a prompt start and prevent another Broadway-style hole in the city centre.

The Bradford South MP fears any delay between demolition and work starting on the key location could draw comparisons with the Westfield shopping centre development, which still has no start date.

Mr Sutcliffe told the Telegraph & Argus: “I will be writing to (Odeon owner) Yorkshire Forward as I want some assurance that the plans are deliverable. What are the timescales, the investment and are there tenants in place?

“We can’t have a Westfield where this goes on for a number of years. A more hardened approach needs to be taken to make sure there are penalty clauses and strict timescales on any development contract.”

Revised designs by developer Langtree Artisan have been submitted to Bradford Council. The plans for a £40 million mixed-use development are expected to be determined towards the end of next month Alongside this application is a conservation area consent bid to demolish the former Odeon building.

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has owned the building since 2000 and has worked with the developers to submit the application.

Jan Anderson, of Yorkshire Forward, said: “Yorkshire Forward’s overriding aim is to see the successful redevelopment of the Odeon site as quickly as possible so that it can bring the benefits to Bradford economy that we know it is capable of delivering.

“We too wish to avoid any gap between the building’s demolition and the start of new development and we will be considering how best to ensure, through legal documentation, that such a gap doesn’t occur.”

Simon Peters, of Langtree Artisan, said: “We already have occupier interest in the scheme and negotiations will be advanced once we have a valid planning permission.”

Last week the Telegraph & Argus reported that the Liberal Democrats are to put a motion before the Council proposing councillors apply pressure on Yorkshire Forward to keep the towers of the former Odeon cinema.

e-mail: jo.winrow@telegraphandargus.co.uk