Heritage report concludes repairs alone would cost £6m (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Heritage report concludes repairs alone would cost £6m

8:21am Tuesday 22nd September 2009 in

By Jo Winrow »

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A new report into the condition of the derelict former Odeon cinema in Bradford city centre has concluded that it is not economically viable to retain any of it.

Details of the heritage statement – which accompanies developer Langtree Artisan’s bid to demolish the 1930s building and carry out a £40 million development of the site – have emerged ahead of a key meeting tomorrow.

Bradford Council’s regulatory and appeals committee is being recommended to approve the redevelopment designs and also give conservation area consent for the Odeon’s demolition.

Experts were called in to assess the merits of four options for retaining the Prince’s Way facade and the twin towers but have concluded it is not financially viable and would cost the developers up to £13.9 million.

The statement has concluded that significant structural constraints and cost implications outweigh any perceived positive benefits of retaining the old building’s features.

The report goes on to say that the domes would have to be demolished to roof level to replace the steelwork, the facade would need to be underpinned and substantially altered to include windows for a modern office use and the flexibility of the office space would be compromised. The repair work alone would cost about £6 million, it says.

It concluded that any such development would prove unviable from both a funding and letting perspective and would impinge on the financial viability of the entire development proposal.

In addition, a second report concerning possible leisure uses for the Odeon site refers to the findings of previous feasibility studies for a concert hall in the city centre.

“The reports demonstrate that the Bradford Odeon site will not make a viable modern concert hall or conference facility,” it states.

Dave Rolinson, chairman of Spawforth Planning Consultants, which commissioned the reports on behalf of Langtree Artisan, said: “Given the significant structural, architectural and economic challenges and the excessive costs required to refurbish the building, it is evident that the demolition of the building is justified.”

Langtree Artisan's mixed-use plans for the development of the site feature four buildings which would provide office space, apartments, a hotel and a restaurant.

A decision will be made at City Hall at tomorrow’s meeting which starts at 10.30am. There have been more than 1,300 objections in total across both applications, including from the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group.

Who has written the report?

The heritage statement has been prepared by commercial agents Colliers CRE, one of the UK’s top real estate advisory firms.

The leisure uses report has been written by Locum Consulting, part of Colliers.

Locum provides Colliers clients with strategic management consultancy on the development of destinations.

Locum has previously written a report on tourism in the district for the Council.

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Comments(29)

PHILISAN says...
8:36am Tue 22 Sep 09

...Seems that the developers have this all 'stitched up'.How odd when through out Yorkshire and indeed the UK,old delapidated historical buildings are being redeveloped and restored to their former glory. Another chance to preserve a part of Bradford's past appears no more than the mirage which is sweeping this ruined city.As for costs,why not re-develope using the vast numbers of people locally out of work in a 'pilot' scheme of retraining under professional supervision..in other words,a 'people' project.