Langtree development scheme for Bradford Odeon scrapped (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

"What I hope they will agree to is that we can now go out to all those groups and individuals who have indicated that they have viable and sustainable alternative plans"

I thought the state of asbestos and structural decay meant there couldn't be a sustainable plan. Or was this a lie?

angry bradfordian wrote:
"What I hope they will agree to is that we can now go out to all those groups and individuals who have indicated that they have viable and sustainable alternative plans"

I thought the state of asbestos and structural decay meant there couldn't be a sustainable plan. Or was this a lie?

"David Curtis, HCA executive director for the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber, said: “Since assuming ownership for the building a year ago, we’ve been working hard to look after the building, remove potentially fatal asbestos and resolve the complex legal issues surrounding the plans for its future."
It looks like the Asbestos is either gone or removable.
I hope a plan with real backers, now emerges and the building can be saved and utilised in a way that would be complimentary to it's neighbour the Alhambra.

Fantastic news!

Now can it be put into the right hands, renovated and rejuvenated in line with the wishes of the people of Bradford.

Why do we always seem to contract with wrong 'uns? Westfield, Langtree...

Is that an indication of how desperate we are?

Albion. wrote:

angry bradfordian wrote:
"What I hope they will agree to is that we can now go out to all those groups and individuals who have indicated that they have viable and sustainable alternative plans"

I thought the state of asbestos and structural decay meant there couldn't be a sustainable plan. Or was this a lie?

"David Curtis, HCA executive director for the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber, said: “Since assuming ownership for the building a year ago, we’ve been working hard to look after the building, remove potentially fatal asbestos and resolve the complex legal issues surrounding the plans for its future."
It looks like the Asbestos is either gone or removable.
I hope a plan with real backers, now emerges and the building can be saved and utilised in a way that would be complimentary to it's neighbour the Alhambra.

I don't understand how the quantity of asbestos was always the main reason that Yorkshire Forward gave as the reason for ruling out refurbishment when they've gone and removed it anyway before the building was sold.

I fear it may be a temporary reprieve, as it'll probably still be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of it's future use.
At least we now know why it's being wrapped.

Whatever happened to Galloways investors in the Odeon? Same place as his "investors" in the Bulls and Bantams?

Only in Bradafut, could a failure to invest ; be regarded as a success.

The Odeon building is a white elephant. It's been empty for a decade. That in itself is a sure sign there is no use for it. knock it down and clear the site for a brand new development. The same should be done with that horrible tower block across from the Oastler centre.

Why don't we steamroller the whole City while we're at it, Bierley Boy?

We need to keep it, and look at buildings in Leeds and Manchester for ideas of how to use it.

The Printworks for example. It's now a popular entertainment centre with bars and restaurants. That was the Daily Mirrors HQ, and stood empty for 12 years before it re-opened. Good job that wasn't demolished and replaced with a non-descript generic building. Like the one that was demolished to build City Square

BierleyBoy wrote:
The Odeon building is a white elephant. It's been empty for a decade. That in itself is a sure sign there is no use for it. knock it down and clear the site for a brand new development. The same should be done with that horrible tower block across from the Oastler centre.

There are reasons why it has remained empty, now there is an opportunity for those who wish to restore it, which didn't exist before.

Why not use it as a ... cinema? Ideal with the National Museum close by. Or is that too obvious?

Hahahahahahahahaha. Are we sure the Odeon isn't a brewery in disguise?

Someone above asked, how come we always seem to climb into bed with wrong uns?

Common denominator is council ineptitude, cross party council ineptitude, cross party pocket lining, cross party brown envelopes.

Best news for a while, come on now Bradford Council, BORG etc etc. get together and restore it back to the New Victoria.
Thank you Eric Pickles and your HCA for getting rid of Langtree, just wish the Council would take your lead and rid us of Westfield too.

There should be a public inquiry into why very few plans ever come to fruition in Bradford. The money spent on planning for the last twenty years on things that did not materialise could have built a brand new City never mind a couple of nice shops and a cinema!

David Green welcomed the announcement, saying he was “pleased” with the outcome, which could lead to all or part of the 1930s building being saved.

“I am pleased that we have closed this particular chapter on the Odeon which gives us the opportunity to rethink the future of the building.

It's not rethinking we need in Bradford, there has been far too much of that! What we need is action. Wish we were as good at building things, as we are at closing yet another chapter that has gone nowhere.

Wonder what odds I will get on the Odeon being in the same position as it is right now, an eyesore, but in another ten years? Safe bet.

Would be ashamed to call myself a councillor from Bradford.

Nothing positive in this report at all.

Should make a rather nice Bazaar!

Pity Poor Bradford wrote:
Why don't we steamroller the whole City while we're at it, Bierley Boy?

We need to keep it, and look at buildings in Leeds and Manchester for ideas of how to use it.

The Printworks for example. It's now a popular entertainment centre with bars and restaurants. That was the Daily Mirrors HQ, and stood empty for 12 years before it re-opened. Good job that wasn't demolished and replaced with a non-descript generic building. Like the one that was demolished to build City Square

The Printworks was not an old style single screen cinema. It was a commercial space that was capable of being adapted & used for many purposes. It is also in the heart of a vibrant major city where there was high demand for leisure & retail space.

The Odeon interior cannot be changed to suit other purposes without removing what it's primary purpose was. i.e to eb a cinema. It can't be turned into a multi scree, so what can it be?

No one who is against demolition seems to have any suggestions.

No one against demolition also seems to have a figure on re-development costs or the money to carry it out.

Yorkshire Forward couldn't do anything with it. HCA couldn't & the council hasn't the money.

Sell the site & clear it for a new development. it's the only way forward.

I have no doubt the building will just lay in waste for another decade until someone decides to do something about it

It's clear from the posts here and in previous threads that the people of Bradford want the original building saving and possibly turning into a cinema or even a music venue which would be ideal and drive a lot of business to the centre

Do they listen though...do they eck

So 1million & we still have nothing & the bill gets bigger as scaffold & security is been added & who picks that bill up.

The Odeon “redevelopment” was rigged from the start the council didn’t want the building saving and this Langtree development whilst it may have resulted in a few brown envelopes for a few people, wasn’t going to benefit Bradford as a whole. The Alhambra itself was saved and look at it now, it’s a successful business working in restored architecture in which we can take pride.

This is a good day for Bradford.

So pleased this iconic building *could* be saved. Now is the time for those people who called for it to be saved, myself included, to find an alternative, viable use. It's up to us who want it saved to save it.

We all now need to object to the planning permission on BFD council planning website to place advertising hoarding over the screens for 2-3 years as this would just delay any development yet again.
I would suggest as many people as possible object to it.
http://www.planning4
bradford.com/online-
applications/applica
tionDetails.do?activ
eTab=summary&keyVal=
M848S8DHC1000

Okay, so it has been saved from the Langtree concept,. But what now, as its now back to square 1, with no plan for the building or the site?

How long is this next phase going to roll on, until it is deemd that the building is beyond sustainability and will end up demolished.

Clearly the Langtree plan could not muster a 50% pre-let.

Old Peculiar wrote:
Only in Bradafut, could a failure to invest ; be regarded as a success.

Unfortunately, that is very true.

Turn it into a gigantic soup kitchen for the thousands of destitute starving people in Bradford. It could also have washrooms, beds, sofas, and a TV lounge, like a giant free hotel for those who are in need. Pay for this by taxing the rich.

Good news. The development plan was out-dated and inappropriate. We now have a bad tooth in the mouth of the city centre, it just needs a filling and Bradford will have a cultural quarter to be proud of!
Keep up the good work. We need viable ideas!!

Its taken more than 10 years to come up with any idea to be put forward, and its now back to square one.

It will end up demolished and the site be a car park to the 100's of thousands visiting the City park.......and if you believe that, then you'll believe that, you'll belive anything the Council have to say, including the Odeon being saved!

Turn it into something for everyone.

A Mosque, micro brewery and real ale bar.

Guaranteed multi cultural winner!!

citywin10 wrote:
Turn it into something for everyone.

A Mosque, micro brewery and real ale bar.

Guaranteed multi cultural winner!!

Might prove interesting on a Friday afternoon.

would make a nice concert venue to bring the best bands to the city,
SAVE THE ODEON !

I would hope that the previously published plans for the John Peel Centre for the North will now be able to go ahead and make use of the building, that idea was by far the best proposal put forward in recent years.

bobbyo wrote:
would make a nice concert venue to bring the best bands to the city, SAVE THE ODEON !

This ^^ is exactly what it needs to become. It could with obviously millions put into it become an excellent concert venue and woudl only compliment the area with the Alhambra next door and the bars etc round the corner and across the road.

I goto quite a few gigs in Manchester and all over and each time I tend to stop over and go out before and afterwards as Im sure others would

Will the council have such hindsight....i doubt it

I like the example of the Printworks in Manchester. Something like that would be ok but ideally a music venue please.

The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats.
I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice.
Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

vax2002 wrote:
The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

NO NO NO

Please no more horrible flat complexes....theres enough lying empty as it is or home to the scum of the earth

You couldn't make it up, could you? Well what do you know, twelve years of money spent and wasted on this farce (public money of course). Westfield next?

vax2002 wrote:
The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats.
I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice.
Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

No chance, there are numerous empty flats already, use those first.

Bradford centre needs saving and fast.

Fantastic news as the langtree development would have been a blot on the landscape.
The Odeon's obvious use is as an entertainments venue. Bradford needs a large concert venue and Bradford needs a large multi-floor nightclub. The area is perfect as it sits close to the rail and bus stations and close to the university area. The majority of Bradford's residents appear to want the retention of at least the building's facades, so they should be retained. The viability of keeping the building's interior should be left to any prospective developer's.

What's the next "Good News" Crapford?

Westfield pull the plug and put the land up for sale?

Andy2010 wrote:

vax2002 wrote:
The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

NO NO NO

Please no more horrible flat complexes....theres enough lying empty as it is or home to the scum of the earth

Scum of the earth? Who do you mean? Poor people in need of a home? Those who lack care and compassion for those less fortunate are the real "scum of the earth", as you put it.

Avro wrote:
What's the next "Good News" Crapford?

Westfield pull the plug and put the land up for sale?

I hope so. Turn the Westfield site into something of actual use, such as allotments to grow much needed food and feed the starving destitute population of Bradford.

citywin10 wrote:
Turn it into something for everyone.

A Mosque, micro brewery and real ale bar.

Guaranteed multi cultural winner!!

..and also grow weed in there too and you're on to a winner!

vax2002 wrote:
The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats.
I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice.
Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone.

This development was only offering 30 odd anyway.

Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

A music/entertainment venue would be the ideal solution, and always has been, however Lee (sorry, Yorkshire) Forward would have nothing that might detract from the Leeds Arena and a certain local newspaper (or it's owners) had no interest in upsetting the apple-cart for well documented reasons.

The John Peel centre looked like a very good idea, if it has some realistic backing then that would be a great use for the site.

The Man With No Name wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

NO NO NO Please no more horrible flat complexes....theres enough lying empty as it is or home to the scum of the earth

Scum of the earth? Who do you mean? Poor people in need of a home? Those who lack care and compassion for those less fortunate are the real "scum of the earth", as you put it.

No not at all. If you look at the empty blocks of flats in the city centre as there is no business in the centre they dont attract the target tenants of young professionals instead and as Landlords then let these out for social housing they attract families with upteem kids who do not work and probably cannot even speak English to them.

Poor people in need of a home....dont make me laugh. There is already plenty there to be let but these sorts do not like topping up the rent out of their alcohol and fag money

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

NO NO NO Please no more horrible flat complexes....theres enough lying empty as it is or home to the scum of the earth

Scum of the earth? Who do you mean? Poor people in need of a home? Those who lack care and compassion for those less fortunate are the real "scum of the earth", as you put it.

No not at all. If you look at the empty blocks of flats in the city centre as there is no business in the centre they dont attract the target tenants of young professionals instead and as Landlords then let these out for social housing they attract families with upteem kids who do not work and probably cannot even speak English to them.

Poor people in need of a home....dont make me laugh. There is already plenty there to be let but these sorts do not like topping up the rent out of their alcohol and fag money

Like I said, no care or compassion for those less fortunate = scum of the earth. Thanks for confirming it.

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote:
The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats.
I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice.
Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone.

This development was only offering 30 odd anyway.

Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem

You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ.

If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income

All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs.

An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum

Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

POLITICS:

A Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

New World Order wrote:
POLITICS: A Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

If you say so

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem

You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ.

If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income

All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs.

An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum

Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

I live in a city centre flat and I'm not an immigrant (well my great grandparents were Irish) and I don't think I'm scum.


But anyway, an entertainment venue at the Odeon would be great - and could be a catalyst for regeneration of the Thornton Road / 'Goitside' area - some of the old buildings there are ripe for conversion for immigrants and scum to live in...

Demand for housing is a) in the future - Bradford has a young population who will all need somewhere to live in the future b) people might be homeless, but staying with friends / family etc

yorkshiredude wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ. If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs. An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

I live in a city centre flat and I'm not an immigrant (well my great grandparents were Irish) and I don't think I'm scum. But anyway, an entertainment venue at the Odeon would be great - and could be a catalyst for regeneration of the Thornton Road / 'Goitside' area - some of the old buildings there are ripe for conversion for immigrants and scum to live in... Demand for housing is a) in the future - Bradford has a young population who will all need somewhere to live in the future b) people might be homeless, but staying with friends / family etc

Without jobs there is nothing plain and simple. The young as you put will simply move away to secure jobs in other areas (well the ones with anything about them will)

The answer to Bradford's problems lies solely in the lack of business being attracted here not in housing or anything else. The main couple fo reasons Leeds has been a success is due to the influx of blue chip companies and also transport links. The Leeds nightlife and shops etc all followed making it what it is today. Bradford has nothing,...nothing at all to offer anyone with disposable income. Housing isnt the answer as without jobs who are going to fill these houses?

Its now near on impossible to attract business to Bradford (by business I mean financial services etc not pound shops or bookies) but at least if the Odean was a venue as such it would be a start to attracting businesses here.

Ask yourself this...if you were for example a London based business looking for a regional office would you want to locate in Bradford?

New World Order wrote:
POLITICS:

A Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

The Left - Right paradigm is actually nothing less than the Hegelian Dialectic being enacted over a long period of time; Thesis Vs. Anti-thesis produces Synthesis. Imagine a Pyramid structure with Synthesis as the Capstone.

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem

You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ.

If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income

All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs.

An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum

Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

"immigrants and scum", there you go again once more confirming that it is people with views such as yourself that are the real scum.

Why are Bradford council so keen to continue demolishing all the iconic buildings in the city?

I'm not a Bradfordian; I am originally from Manchester and moved here three years ago, so perhaps I can see this from an outsider's viewpoint.

In Manchester, we have conserved and renovated at least the facades of many of our historical buildings and put them to another use.

The Odeon building is a beautiful one, and sits close to another iconic building, the Alhambra. The two buildings together are a real spectacal and they were two of the first buildings I fell in love with in Bradford. It would be a calamity if one were to disappear. Some use must be found for it.

In terms of housing, there are plenty of derelict brownfield sites around the city centre and around the suburbs that could be used for housing development.

The redevelopment of Hulme and Moss Side in Manchester, formerly by-words for gangland killings and drug-ridden communities, proves what can be achieved with some careful forethought and planning.

Get your act together Bradford! You have a potentially beautiful city! Stop destroying the beautiful parts and start redeveloping the concrete eyesores that are a relic of the 60's and the derelict factory sites instead.

BierleyBoy wrote:

Pity Poor Bradford wrote: Why don't we steamroller the whole City while we're at it, Bierley Boy? We need to keep it, and look at buildings in Leeds and Manchester for ideas of how to use it. The Printworks for example. It's now a popular entertainment centre with bars and restaurants. That was the Daily Mirrors HQ, and stood empty for 12 years before it re-opened. Good job that wasn't demolished and replaced with a non-descript generic building. Like the one that was demolished to build City Square

The Printworks was not an old style single screen cinema. It was a commercial space that was capable of being adapted & used for many purposes. It is also in the heart of a vibrant major city where there was high demand for leisure & retail space. The Odeon interior cannot be changed to suit other purposes without removing what it's primary purpose was. i.e to eb a cinema. It can't be turned into a multi scree, so what can it be? No one who is against demolition seems to have any suggestions. No one against demolition also seems to have a figure on re-development costs or the money to carry it out. Yorkshire Forward couldn't do anything with it. HCA couldn't & the council hasn't the money. Sell the site & clear it for a new development. it's the only way forward.

Yes, Manchester is a thriving city. One of the reasons for that is that there is a lot of entertainment and nightlife. If we want to inject that kind of vibrance into Bradford (and why shouldn't we?) then we need to start providing places for people to go. There are many uses it could be put to. Turn it back into a cinema is one. A nightclub would be ideal. There something that could be done with it with some willpower and originality of thought.

Thorntonguy wrote:

BierleyBoy wrote:

Pity Poor Bradford wrote: Why don't we steamroller the whole City while we're at it, Bierley Boy? We need to keep it, and look at buildings in Leeds and Manchester for ideas of how to use it. The Printworks for example. It's now a popular entertainment centre with bars and restaurants. That was the Daily Mirrors HQ, and stood empty for 12 years before it re-opened. Good job that wasn't demolished and replaced with a non-descript generic building. Like the one that was demolished to build City Square

The Printworks was not an old style single screen cinema. It was a commercial space that was capable of being adapted & used for many purposes. It is also in the heart of a vibrant major city where there was high demand for leisure & retail space. The Odeon interior cannot be changed to suit other purposes without removing what it's primary purpose was. i.e to eb a cinema. It can't be turned into a multi scree, so what can it be? No one who is against demolition seems to have any suggestions. No one against demolition also seems to have a figure on re-development costs or the money to carry it out. Yorkshire Forward couldn't do anything with it. HCA couldn't & the council hasn't the money. Sell the site & clear it for a new development. it's the only way forward.

Yes, Manchester is a thriving city. One of the reasons for that is that there is a lot of entertainment and nightlife. If we want to inject that kind of vibrance into Bradford (and why shouldn't we?) then we need to start providing places for people to go. There are many uses it could be put to. Turn it back into a cinema is one. A nightclub would be ideal. There something that could be done with it with some willpower and originality of thought.

The thing is the council are always thinking of the quick £ rather than long term investment.

They would stand to make a lot more in way of tax on flats or offices than on an entertainment.

Alas its a false ecomony but they dont have a braincell between them

Andy2010 wrote:

yorkshiredude wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ. If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs. An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

I live in a city centre flat and I'm not an immigrant (well my great grandparents were Irish) and I don't think I'm scum. But anyway, an entertainment venue at the Odeon would be great - and could be a catalyst for regeneration of the Thornton Road / 'Goitside' area - some of the old buildings there are ripe for conversion for immigrants and scum to live in... Demand for housing is a) in the future - Bradford has a young population who will all need somewhere to live in the future b) people might be homeless, but staying with friends / family etc

Without jobs there is nothing plain and simple. The young as you put will simply move away to secure jobs in other areas (well the ones with anything about them will)

The answer to Bradford's problems lies solely in the lack of business being attracted here not in housing or anything else. The main couple fo reasons Leeds has been a success is due to the influx of blue chip companies and also transport links. The Leeds nightlife and shops etc all followed making it what it is today. Bradford has nothing,...nothing at all to offer anyone with disposable income. Housing isnt the answer as without jobs who are going to fill these houses?

Its now near on impossible to attract business to Bradford (by business I mean financial services etc not pound shops or bookies) but at least if the Odean was a venue as such it would be a start to attracting businesses here.

Ask yourself this...if you were for example a London based business looking for a regional office would you want to locate in Bradford?

Which reflects the demise of Bradford as industry died.

Therefore any resurrection has to come from growth within some industry, be it entertainment, retail or whatever, it will not and can not come from 'giving' houses to idiots and workshy gloits.

The Man With No Name wrote:

citywin10 wrote:
Turn it into something for everyone.

A Mosque, micro brewery and real ale bar.

Guaranteed multi cultural winner!!

..and also grow weed in there too and you're on to a winner!

....and I would quite like a decent pie and pea shop. You can get the munchies after a few pints of decent ale.

The Man With No Name wrote:

New World Order wrote:
POLITICS:

A Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

The Left - Right paradigm is actually nothing less than the Hegelian Dialectic being enacted over a long period of time; Thesis Vs. Anti-thesis produces Synthesis. Imagine a Pyramid structure with Synthesis as the Capstone.

...easy for you to say !!!

Its obvious that turning it into a shopping complex is not the way to go. It could easily be turned into a museum of some sorts. Museums bring in people..we know that from the national media up the road.

If the council want to turn Bradford around it needs to back projects like this, not places to go shopping...as they will come later when visitor numbers increase.

It would seem the people in this thread (barring the stupid housing idea) actually have put forward better ideas than a £1m paid consultant by the council could have come up with

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

yorkshiredude wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ. If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs. An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

I live in a city centre flat and I'm not an immigrant (well my great grandparents were Irish) and I don't think I'm scum. But anyway, an entertainment venue at the Odeon would be great - and could be a catalyst for regeneration of the Thornton Road / 'Goitside' area - some of the old buildings there are ripe for conversion for immigrants and scum to live in... Demand for housing is a) in the future - Bradford has a young population who will all need somewhere to live in the future b) people might be homeless, but staying with friends / family etc

Without jobs there is nothing plain and simple. The young as you put will simply move away to secure jobs in other areas (well the ones with anything about them will)

The answer to Bradford's problems lies solely in the lack of business being attracted here not in housing or anything else. The main couple fo reasons Leeds has been a success is due to the influx of blue chip companies and also transport links. The Leeds nightlife and shops etc all followed making it what it is today. Bradford has nothing,...nothing at all to offer anyone with disposable income. Housing isnt the answer as without jobs who are going to fill these houses?

Its now near on impossible to attract business to Bradford (by business I mean financial services etc not pound shops or bookies) but at least if the Odean was a venue as such it would be a start to attracting businesses here.

Ask yourself this...if you were for example a London based business looking for a regional office would you want to locate in Bradford?

Which reflects the demise of Bradford as industry died.

Therefore any resurrection has to come from growth within some industry, be it entertainment, retail or whatever, it will not and can not come from 'giving' houses to idiots and workshy gloits.

Retail is dead, Cameron, Osbourne & Co. have seen to that!

Andy2010 wrote:
It would seem the people in this thread (barring the stupid housing idea) actually have put forward better ideas than a £1m paid consultant by the council could have come up with

Consultants who charge £1 Million for doing next to nothing epitomise the inherent dishonesty that exists within Capitalism, the system you love so much.

Andy2010 wrote:

Thorntonguy wrote:

BierleyBoy wrote:

Pity Poor Bradford wrote: Why don't we steamroller the whole City while we're at it, Bierley Boy? We need to keep it, and look at buildings in Leeds and Manchester for ideas of how to use it. The Printworks for example. It's now a popular entertainment centre with bars and restaurants. That was the Daily Mirrors HQ, and stood empty for 12 years before it re-opened. Good job that wasn't demolished and replaced with a non-descript generic building. Like the one that was demolished to build City Square

The Printworks was not an old style single screen cinema. It was a commercial space that was capable of being adapted & used for many purposes. It is also in the heart of a vibrant major city where there was high demand for leisure & retail space. The Odeon interior cannot be changed to suit other purposes without removing what it's primary purpose was. i.e to eb a cinema. It can't be turned into a multi scree, so what can it be? No one who is against demolition seems to have any suggestions. No one against demolition also seems to have a figure on re-development costs or the money to carry it out. Yorkshire Forward couldn't do anything with it. HCA couldn't & the council hasn't the money. Sell the site & clear it for a new development. it's the only way forward.

Yes, Manchester is a thriving city. One of the reasons for that is that there is a lot of entertainment and nightlife. If we want to inject that kind of vibrance into Bradford (and why shouldn't we?) then we need to start providing places for people to go. There are many uses it could be put to. Turn it back into a cinema is one. A nightclub would be ideal. There something that could be done with it with some willpower and originality of thought.

The thing is the council are always thinking of the quick £ rather than long term investment.

They would stand to make a lot more in way of tax on flats or offices than on an entertainment.

Alas its a false ecomony but they dont have a braincell between them

Nightclubs are ten a penny, and who the hell wants another nightclub anyway? Let the young revelers go to Leeds instead. That sort of dubious 'entertainment' surely is unsustainable and not worthy of any longterm investment. We don't need another cinema as we have enough already, we don't need any more shops as again we already have plenty, same goes for restaurants, but what we do need is more affordable housing and quality free food outlets for the poor.

The Man With No Name wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

Thorntonguy wrote:

BierleyBoy wrote:

Pity Poor Bradford wrote: Why don't we steamroller the whole City while we're at it, Bierley Boy? We need to keep it, and look at buildings in Leeds and Manchester for ideas of how to use it. The Printworks for example. It's now a popular entertainment centre with bars and restaurants. That was the Daily Mirrors HQ, and stood empty for 12 years before it re-opened. Good job that wasn't demolished and replaced with a non-descript generic building. Like the one that was demolished to build City Square

The Printworks was not an old style single screen cinema. It was a commercial space that was capable of being adapted & used for many purposes. It is also in the heart of a vibrant major city where there was high demand for leisure & retail space. The Odeon interior cannot be changed to suit other purposes without removing what it's primary purpose was. i.e to eb a cinema. It can't be turned into a multi scree, so what can it be? No one who is against demolition seems to have any suggestions. No one against demolition also seems to have a figure on re-development costs or the money to carry it out. Yorkshire Forward couldn't do anything with it. HCA couldn't & the council hasn't the money. Sell the site & clear it for a new development. it's the only way forward.

Yes, Manchester is a thriving city. One of the reasons for that is that there is a lot of entertainment and nightlife. If we want to inject that kind of vibrance into Bradford (and why shouldn't we?) then we need to start providing places for people to go. There are many uses it could be put to. Turn it back into a cinema is one. A nightclub would be ideal. There something that could be done with it with some willpower and originality of thought.

The thing is the council are always thinking of the quick £ rather than long term investment. They would stand to make a lot more in way of tax on flats or offices than on an entertainment. Alas its a false ecomony but they dont have a braincell between them

Nightclubs are ten a penny, and who the hell wants another nightclub anyway? Let the young revelers go to Leeds instead. That sort of dubious 'entertainment' surely is unsustainable and not worthy of any longterm investment. We don't need another cinema as we have enough already, we don't need any more shops as again we already have plenty, same goes for restaurants, but what we do need is more affordable housing and quality free food outlets for the poor.

So according to your proposal you would knock down the odean and build flats and a "free" food restuarent for the poor...

Who is going to pay for this service and please explain how this benefits the local ecomony

Thorntonguy wrote:
Why are Bradford council so keen to continue demolishing all the iconic buildings in the city?

I'm not a Bradfordian; I am originally from Manchester and moved here three years ago, so perhaps I can see this from an outsider's viewpoint.

In Manchester, we have conserved and renovated at least the facades of many of our historical buildings and put them to another use.

The Odeon building is a beautiful one, and sits close to another iconic building, the Alhambra. The two buildings together are a real spectacal and they were two of the first buildings I fell in love with in Bradford. It would be a calamity if one were to disappear. Some use must be found for it.

In terms of housing, there are plenty of derelict brownfield sites around the city centre and around the suburbs that could be used for housing development.

The redevelopment of Hulme and Moss Side in Manchester, formerly by-words for gangland killings and drug-ridden communities, proves what can be achieved with some careful forethought and planning.

Get your act together Bradford! You have a potentially beautiful city! Stop destroying the beautiful parts and start redeveloping the concrete eyesores that are a relic of the 60's and the derelict factory sites instead.

Bradford council won't like an outsider like you coming in and speaking common sense. Don't you know artists impressions and demolitions are the future?

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

Thorntonguy wrote:

BierleyBoy wrote:

Pity Poor Bradford wrote: Why don't we steamroller the whole City while we're at it, Bierley Boy? We need to keep it, and look at buildings in Leeds and Manchester for ideas of how to use it. The Printworks for example. It's now a popular entertainment centre with bars and restaurants. That was the Daily Mirrors HQ, and stood empty for 12 years before it re-opened. Good job that wasn't demolished and replaced with a non-descript generic building. Like the one that was demolished to build City Square

The Printworks was not an old style single screen cinema. It was a commercial space that was capable of being adapted & used for many purposes. It is also in the heart of a vibrant major city where there was high demand for leisure & retail space. The Odeon interior cannot be changed to suit other purposes without removing what it's primary purpose was. i.e to eb a cinema. It can't be turned into a multi scree, so what can it be? No one who is against demolition seems to have any suggestions. No one against demolition also seems to have a figure on re-development costs or the money to carry it out. Yorkshire Forward couldn't do anything with it. HCA couldn't & the council hasn't the money. Sell the site & clear it for a new development. it's the only way forward.

Yes, Manchester is a thriving city. One of the reasons for that is that there is a lot of entertainment and nightlife. If we want to inject that kind of vibrance into Bradford (and why shouldn't we?) then we need to start providing places for people to go. There are many uses it could be put to. Turn it back into a cinema is one. A nightclub would be ideal. There something that could be done with it with some willpower and originality of thought.

The thing is the council are always thinking of the quick £ rather than long term investment. They would stand to make a lot more in way of tax on flats or offices than on an entertainment. Alas its a false ecomony but they dont have a braincell between them

Nightclubs are ten a penny, and who the hell wants another nightclub anyway? Let the young revelers go to Leeds instead. That sort of dubious 'entertainment' surely is unsustainable and not worthy of any longterm investment. We don't need another cinema as we have enough already, we don't need any more shops as again we already have plenty, same goes for restaurants, but what we do need is more affordable housing and quality free food outlets for the poor.

So according to your proposal you would knock down the odean and build flats and a "free" food restuarent for the poor...

Who is going to pay for this service and please explain how this benefits the local ecomony

No, I wouldn't knock down the Odeon, simply convert it. Increase Council Tax on the wealthy top earners and property owners to pay for it. Tax the rich out of existence.

Andy2010 wrote:
It would seem the people in this thread (barring the stupid housing idea) actually have put forward better ideas than a £1m paid consultant by the council could have come up with

Anything that actually solves a real problem is stupid.
You have 30,000 people on housing waiting lists.
Build affordable rent flats for working tenants.

The Man With No Name wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

Thorntonguy wrote:

BierleyBoy wrote:

Pity Poor Bradford wrote: Why don't we steamroller the whole City while we're at it, Bierley Boy? We need to keep it, and look at buildings in Leeds and Manchester for ideas of how to use it. The Printworks for example. It's now a popular entertainment centre with bars and restaurants. That was the Daily Mirrors HQ, and stood empty for 12 years before it re-opened. Good job that wasn't demolished and replaced with a non-descript generic building. Like the one that was demolished to build City Square

The Printworks was not an old style single screen cinema. It was a commercial space that was capable of being adapted & used for many purposes. It is also in the heart of a vibrant major city where there was high demand for leisure & retail space. The Odeon interior cannot be changed to suit other purposes without removing what it's primary purpose was. i.e to eb a cinema. It can't be turned into a multi scree, so what can it be? No one who is against demolition seems to have any suggestions. No one against demolition also seems to have a figure on re-development costs or the money to carry it out. Yorkshire Forward couldn't do anything with it. HCA couldn't & the council hasn't the money. Sell the site & clear it for a new development. it's the only way forward.

Yes, Manchester is a thriving city. One of the reasons for that is that there is a lot of entertainment and nightlife. If we want to inject that kind of vibrance into Bradford (and why shouldn't we?) then we need to start providing places for people to go. There are many uses it could be put to. Turn it back into a cinema is one. A nightclub would be ideal. There something that could be done with it with some willpower and originality of thought.

The thing is the council are always thinking of the quick £ rather than long term investment. They would stand to make a lot more in way of tax on flats or offices than on an entertainment. Alas its a false ecomony but they dont have a braincell between them

Nightclubs are ten a penny, and who the hell wants another nightclub anyway? Let the young revelers go to Leeds instead. That sort of dubious 'entertainment' surely is unsustainable and not worthy of any longterm investment. We don't need another cinema as we have enough already, we don't need any more shops as again we already have plenty, same goes for restaurants, but what we do need is more affordable housing and quality free food outlets for the poor.

So according to your proposal you would knock down the odean and build flats and a "free" food restuarent for the poor...

Who is going to pay for this service and please explain how this benefits the local ecomony

No, I wouldn't knock down the Odeon, simply convert it. Increase Council Tax on the wealthy top earners and property owners to pay for it. Tax the rich out of existence.

Yes, we could bring back strip farming, the ducking stool and the window tax.

Great news regarding the Odeon building......I believe Leeds are building a concert arena which will have a 15,000 seat capacity, why don't Bradford use a refurbished Odeon building to create a world class concert hall, arts and conference centre with say 3,000 to 3,500 seats to cater for world class artists that cannot hope to fill the Leeds arena, both venues could work together. I'd call the Bradford venue the Delius, Rothenstein and Wolfe.

they could use it as a giant pound shop.

Andy2010 wrote:

yorkshiredude wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ. If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs. An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

I live in a city centre flat and I'm not an immigrant (well my great grandparents were Irish) and I don't think I'm scum. But anyway, an entertainment venue at the Odeon would be great - and could be a catalyst for regeneration of the Thornton Road / 'Goitside' area - some of the old buildings there are ripe for conversion for immigrants and scum to live in... Demand for housing is a) in the future - Bradford has a young population who will all need somewhere to live in the future b) people might be homeless, but staying with friends / family etc

Without jobs there is nothing plain and simple. The young as you put will simply move away to secure jobs in other areas (well the ones with anything about them will)

The answer to Bradford's problems lies solely in the lack of business being attracted here not in housing or anything else. The main couple fo reasons Leeds has been a success is due to the influx of blue chip companies and also transport links. The Leeds nightlife and shops etc all followed making it what it is today. Bradford has nothing,...nothing at all to offer anyone with disposable income. Housing isnt the answer as without jobs who are going to fill these houses?

Its now near on impossible to attract business to Bradford (by business I mean financial services etc not pound shops or bookies) but at least if the Odean was a venue as such it would be a start to attracting businesses here.

Ask yourself this...if you were for example a London based business looking for a regional office would you want to locate in Bradford?

Interesting question at the end. The answer is no you wouldn't put a regional office in Bradford unless there are some incentives like cheaper office space. I was in and around Bradford in the 1970's and 1980's and witnessed the exodus of big names in insurance and the law to Leeds. Bradford was just too much out on a limb for these guys who were doing a lot of business with London. The rail service between Leeds and London is superb, I use it a lot, and the motorway link is also excellent if you don't mind the traffic jams. Bradford is on the end of a branch line. If it was decided to electrify the line between Leeds and Manchester via Bradford then there may be a realistic chance of revitalising Bradford. Other than that I think it is only a managed decline that is our future and they may as well pull the Odeon down and make a carpark.

There is actually now more head offices of big businesses in Bradford than in Leeds. Ten miles makes no difference but office space rates do, it makes far more economic sense to base yourself in Bradford. I fancy you would get a cheaper rate per employee also. ...that is why alot of firms choose Bradford as a base. Yes Leeds is a financial centre but Bradford actually has more manufacturing than Leeds, Bradford still has a large manufacturing base compared to other cities including Leeds. So a city that has a population of 522,000 is imo crying out for a world class concert arts and conference centre, bring on the Delius, Rothenstein and Wolfe !!!!!

Cant The ABC ( not the old broadway cinema ) consortium help out like they wanted at odsal? or cant Omar Khan and Mr Sutcliffe turn it into an indoor sporting arena complete with shisha lounge ?

MontyLeMar wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

yorkshiredude wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ. If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs. An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

I live in a city centre flat and I'm not an immigrant (well my great grandparents were Irish) and I don't think I'm scum. But anyway, an entertainment venue at the Odeon would be great - and could be a catalyst for regeneration of the Thornton Road / 'Goitside' area - some of the old buildings there are ripe for conversion for immigrants and scum to live in... Demand for housing is a) in the future - Bradford has a young population who will all need somewhere to live in the future b) people might be homeless, but staying with friends / family etc

Without jobs there is nothing plain and simple. The young as you put will simply move away to secure jobs in other areas (well the ones with anything about them will) The answer to Bradford's problems lies solely in the lack of business being attracted here not in housing or anything else. The main couple fo reasons Leeds has been a success is due to the influx of blue chip companies and also transport links. The Leeds nightlife and shops etc all followed making it what it is today. Bradford has nothing,...nothing at all to offer anyone with disposable income. Housing isnt the answer as without jobs who are going to fill these houses? Its now near on impossible to attract business to Bradford (by business I mean financial services etc not pound shops or bookies) but at least if the Odean was a venue as such it would be a start to attracting businesses here. Ask yourself this...if you were for example a London based business looking for a regional office would you want to locate in Bradford?

Interesting question at the end. The answer is no you wouldn't put a regional office in Bradford unless there are some incentives like cheaper office space. I was in and around Bradford in the 1970's and 1980's and witnessed the exodus of big names in insurance and the law to Leeds. Bradford was just too much out on a limb for these guys who were doing a lot of business with London. The rail service between Leeds and London is superb, I use it a lot, and the motorway link is also excellent if you don't mind the traffic jams. Bradford is on the end of a branch line. If it was decided to electrify the line between Leeds and Manchester via Bradford then there may be a realistic chance of revitalising Bradford. Other than that I think it is only a managed decline that is our future and they may as well pull the Odeon down and make a carpark.

And dont forget ALL the major firms of accountants that moved out.

And as Illingworth Morris, whiteheads,Crofts,GE
C,British Mohair Spinners,Grattan,Emp
ire Stores,International Harvester,and a whole further raft of textile,light and heavy engineering and small manafacturers packed up the city has become a desert.

Someone above suggests that therte are a whole lot more HQ of National companies in Bradford than Leeds.

Am I blind,I have scoured and thought about this but see nothing.

I looked over Jordan and what did I see.
A band of angels running after me.

Where art thou Bradford now.

Excellent news for all those who have harrassed and campaigned and fought tooth and nail to save the structure including the fabulously rich David Hockney.

If I were Bradford Council I would be sending a begging mission to Bridlington to plead with one of the cities most famous sons to buy it,transform it,and leave it as his legacy with assistance from his erstwhile friends the world over.

He is always innovating and there could be room for music too.
What a national attraction that would prove.

Remember the Alahambra 25 years ago was scheduled for demolition before a U turn saw £9 million transform it into one of the busiest much loved provincial theatres in britain.

So the council can eventually get something(as with the Alahambra)right.

Go and beg and grovel David Green.

With that earing and accent Mr Hockney might just fancy you and you might pull it off.If you pardon the pun.

Well done to everyone who has pressurised the Home And Communities agency with the suspected perceived corruption behind the past decisions made out (to some extent)of council control.

Shame on Terry Hodgkinson who as head of Yorkshire Forward contrived to fail to maintain (as was legally required)the building over several years of YF ownership.
And then pops up as a consultant bobbing and weaving the project the very bankrupt Langtree Artisan companies way after the Tories kicked his well paid Regional Development agency into touch.Quite right too and the brown paper envelopes with him.

Well done to David Curtis at HCA to have the balls to kick this into touch and take note of the wealth of public opinion who deemed the scheme presented was totally not in Bradfords best interests.

At the end of the day people power and the complete lack of confidence in the city and economy has seen the project finally nailed.
Ill conceived from the start old Hodgers reckoned the scheme met "Bradford"s economic aspirations"

What Bull.

This is not A1 office territory potential anymore.

Those days are long gone.

We are a city of beggars and have lost our way.

Now get that b*oody great hole filled in cos it will never happen,build on the new culture (begging)and we can fill the place to the sounds of McTells streets of London.

Oh how sad the mighty has fallen

A great day to celebrate the rebutt of brown paper envelopes and contract commissions.Well done Bradfordians.

Wonder how much influence the young salts school kid who has started his very own campaign has had.
Well done young man.throw that lad a biscuit

jackw wrote:
So 1million & we still have nothing & the bill gets bigger as scaffold & security is been added & who picks that bill up.

The Home and Communities Agency ultimately funded by the national coffers.

Not the local taxpayer whose number dwindle with every passing day.

But I suspect they will seek recovery in the sale price if iot remains saved.

The government would do well to gift it to any serious developer that meets the peoples economic and social aspirations
The arts are after all publically funded big time down south.

We do have culture up north of course that extends further than two pints of lager and a bag of C & O.Now try prize the brass out of em and convince those arty tarties down south that theres more to Bradford than satanic mills and muck.

somewhere over the rainbow

I wonder why they all don't come to a compromise, keep the odeon towers knock down everything in between, and have a modern facelift, like a glass front (as they did with waterstoones in the city centre. They should definitely look at boosting economy and not housing people after all housing can be done else where but attracting economy to the city have to be at vital locations and the odeon site can be one of those. There is a need to create areas of entertainment, cafe's, and shops, a little up market to get the pin stripe suite owners in there to spend spend spend.

SouthEastAsianBradfo
rdian wrote:
I wonder why they all don't come to a compromise, keep the odeon towers knock down everything in between, and have a modern facelift, like a glass front (as they did with waterstoones in the city centre. They should definitely look at boosting economy and not housing people after all housing can be done else where but attracting economy to the city have to be at vital locations and the odeon site can be one of those. There is a need to create areas of entertainment, cafe's, and shops, a little up market to get the pin stripe suite owners in there to spend spend spend.

Retain the towers...glass front. Excellent idea, I've seen that vision myself. That sweep of Princes Road, the twin towers plus the Alhambra plus Europe's biggest fountain plus the Italianate Town Hall would look spectacular. Well, we can dream can't we?

alfucham wrote:

MontyLeMar wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

yorkshiredude wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ. If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs. An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

I live in a city centre flat and I'm not an immigrant (well my great grandparents were Irish) and I don't think I'm scum. But anyway, an entertainment venue at the Odeon would be great - and could be a catalyst for regeneration of the Thornton Road / 'Goitside' area - some of the old buildings there are ripe for conversion for immigrants and scum to live in... Demand for housing is a) in the future - Bradford has a young population who will all need somewhere to live in the future b) people might be homeless, but staying with friends / family etc

Without jobs there is nothing plain and simple. The young as you put will simply move away to secure jobs in other areas (well the ones with anything about them will) The answer to Bradford's problems lies solely in the lack of business being attracted here not in housing or anything else. The main couple fo reasons Leeds has been a success is due to the influx of blue chip companies and also transport links. The Leeds nightlife and shops etc all followed making it what it is today. Bradford has nothing,...nothing at all to offer anyone with disposable income. Housing isnt the answer as without jobs who are going to fill these houses? Its now near on impossible to attract business to Bradford (by business I mean financial services etc not pound shops or bookies) but at least if the Odean was a venue as such it would be a start to attracting businesses here. Ask yourself this...if you were for example a London based business looking for a regional office would you want to locate in Bradford?

Interesting question at the end. The answer is no you wouldn't put a regional office in Bradford unless there are some incentives like cheaper office space. I was in and around Bradford in the 1970's and 1980's and witnessed the exodus of big names in insurance and the law to Leeds. Bradford was just too much out on a limb for these guys who were doing a lot of business with London. The rail service between Leeds and London is superb, I use it a lot, and the motorway link is also excellent if you don't mind the traffic jams. Bradford is on the end of a branch line. If it was decided to electrify the line between Leeds and Manchester via Bradford then there may be a realistic chance of revitalising Bradford. Other than that I think it is only a managed decline that is our future and they may as well pull the Odeon down and make a carpark.

And dont forget ALL the major firms of accountants that moved out.

And as Illingworth Morris, whiteheads,Crofts,GE

C,British Mohair Spinners,Grattan,Emp

ire Stores,International Harvester,and a whole further raft of textile,light and heavy engineering and small manafacturers packed up the city has become a desert.

Someone above suggests that therte are a whole lot more HQ of National companies in Bradford than Leeds.

Am I blind,I have scoured and thought about this but see nothing.

I looked over Jordan and what did I see.
A band of angels running after me.

Where art thou Bradford now.

Excellent news for all those who have harrassed and campaigned and fought tooth and nail to save the structure including the fabulously rich David Hockney.

If I were Bradford Council I would be sending a begging mission to Bridlington to plead with one of the cities most famous sons to buy it,transform it,and leave it as his legacy with assistance from his erstwhile friends the world over.

He is always innovating and there could be room for music too.
What a national attraction that would prove.

Remember the Alahambra 25 years ago was scheduled for demolition before a U turn saw £9 million transform it into one of the busiest much loved provincial theatres in britain.

So the council can eventually get something(as with the Alahambra)right.

Go and beg and grovel David Green.

With that earing and accent Mr Hockney might just fancy you and you might pull it off.If you pardon the pun.

Well done to everyone who has pressurised the Home And Communities agency with the suspected perceived corruption behind the past decisions made out (to some extent)of council control.

Shame on Terry Hodgkinson who as head of Yorkshire Forward contrived to fail to maintain (as was legally required)the building over several years of YF ownership.
And then pops up as a consultant bobbing and weaving the project the very bankrupt Langtree Artisan companies way after the Tories kicked his well paid Regional Development agency into touch.Quite right too and the brown paper envelopes with him.

Well done to David Curtis at HCA to have the balls to kick this into touch and take note of the wealth of public opinion who deemed the scheme presented was totally not in Bradfords best interests.

At the end of the day people power and the complete lack of confidence in the city and economy has seen the project finally nailed.
Ill conceived from the start old Hodgers reckoned the scheme met "Bradford"s economic aspirations"

What Bull.

This is not A1 office territory potential anymore.

Those days are long gone.

We are a city of beggars and have lost our way.

Now get that b*oody great hole filled in cos it will never happen,build on the new culture (begging)and we can fill the place to the sounds of McTells streets of London.

Oh how sad the mighty has fallen

A great day to celebrate the rebutt of brown paper envelopes and contract commissions.Well done Bradfordians.

Wonder how much influence the young salts school kid who has started his very own campaign has had.
Well done young man.throw that lad a biscuit

I think you are blind regarding head offices for national companys in Bradford, Just try opening your eyes.... Morrisons, Yorkshire Building Society, National and Provincial, The Otto group, British Wool Marketing board, Pace..... Bulmer and Lumb...Yorkshire Water/Kelder........
Filtronic.

If they knock the Odean down then Bradford will have two holes in the ground with no prospect of being redeveloped! Renovate it and use it as a concert venue! Bring back a bit of culture! Or is it too late!

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote:

MontyLeMar wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

yorkshiredude wrote:

Andy2010 wrote:

The Man With No Name wrote:

Clowny wrote:

vax2002 wrote: The city has a housing crisis, here is an empty building that could be made in to flats. I would have thought that when you have two problems, one solution to both would be a good choice. Strip it out and build affordable rent flats.

You clearly know nothing about the city centre housing market, there are loads already empty and 700 cheap ones (about the size of prison cells) being built in just one development alone. This development was only offering 30 odd anyway. Bradford needs a nightlife and entertainment to create that.

Affordable housing for those in need comes before entertainment and nightlife. I hope all those empty properties you claim exist are all taken over by squatters.

and here lies the problem You claim housing is more important. I beg to differ. If this was turned into an entertainment venue this generates not only prestige for the city but also income All that building housing does is put those who cant be bothered bettering their lives into social housing and creates run down areas. This is the last thing the centre needs. An entertainment complex creates jobs and income and gives the city a selling point to attract businesses here which is exactly what Bradford needs not some stupid flats to house the immigrants and scum Anyway why is there such a demand for housing. I dont seem to remember thousands of homeless scouring the streets (although walking round Bradford you could assume that)

I live in a city centre flat and I'm not an immigrant (well my great grandparents were Irish) and I don't think I'm scum. But anyway, an entertainment venue at the Odeon would be great - and could be a catalyst for regeneration of the Thornton Road / 'Goitside' area - some of the old buildings there are ripe for conversion for immigrants and scum to live in... Demand for housing is a) in the future - Bradford has a young population who will all need somewhere to live in the future b) people might be homeless, but staying with friends / family etc

Without jobs there is nothing plain and simple. The young as you put will simply move away to secure jobs in other areas (well the ones with anything about them will) The answer to Bradford's problems lies solely in the lack of business being attracted here not in housing or anything else. The main couple fo reasons Leeds has been a success is due to the influx of blue chip companies and also transport links. The Leeds nightlife and shops etc all followed making it what it is today. Bradford has nothing,...nothing at all to offer anyone with disposable income. Housing isnt the answer as without jobs who are going to fill these houses? Its now near on impossible to attract business to Bradford (by business I mean financial services etc not pound shops or bookies) but at least if the Odean was a venue as such it would be a start to attracting businesses here. Ask yourself this...if you were for example a London based business looking for a regional office would you want to locate in Bradford?

Interesting question at the end. The answer is no you wouldn't put a regional office in Bradford unless there are some incentives like cheaper office space. I was in and around Bradford in the 1970's and 1980's and witnessed the exodus of big names in insurance and the law to Leeds. Bradford was just too much out on a limb for these guys who were doing a lot of business with London. The rail service between Leeds and London is superb, I use it a lot, and the motorway link is also excellent if you don't mind the traffic jams. Bradford is on the end of a branch line. If it was decided to electrify the line between Leeds and Manchester via Bradford then there may be a realistic chance of revitalising Bradford. Other than that I think it is only a managed decline that is our future and they may as well pull the Odeon down and make a carpark.

And dont forget ALL the major firms of accountants that moved out. And as Illingworth Morris, whiteheads,Crofts,GE C,British Mohair Spinners,Grattan,Emp ire Stores,International Harvester,and a whole further raft of textile,light and heavy engineering and small manafacturers packed up the city has become a desert. Someone above suggests that therte are a whole lot more HQ of National companies in Bradford than Leeds. Am I blind,I have scoured and thought about this but see nothing. I looked over Jordan and what did I see. A band of angels running after me. Where art thou Bradford now. Excellent news for all those who have harrassed and campaigned and fought tooth and nail to save the structure including the fabulously rich David Hockney. If I were Bradford Council I would be sending a begging mission to Bridlington to plead with one of the cities most famous sons to buy it,transform it,and leave it as his legacy with assistance from his erstwhile friends the world over. He is always innovating and there could be room for music too. What a national attraction that would prove. Remember the Alahambra 25 years ago was scheduled for demolition before a U turn saw £9 million transform it into one of the busiest much loved provincial theatres in britain. So the council can eventually get something(as with the Alahambra)right. Go and beg and grovel David Green. With that earing and accent Mr Hockney might just fancy you and you might pull it off.If you pardon the pun. Well done to everyone who has pressurised the Home And Communities agency with the suspected perceived corruption behind the past decisions made out (to some extent)of council control. Shame on Terry Hodgkinson who as head of Yorkshire Forward contrived to fail to maintain (as was legally required)the building over several years of YF ownership. And then pops up as a consultant bobbing and weaving the project the very bankrupt Langtree Artisan companies way after the Tories kicked his well paid Regional Development agency into touch.Quite right too and the brown paper envelopes with him. Well done to David Curtis at HCA to have the balls to kick this into touch and take note of the wealth of public opinion who deemed the scheme presented was totally not in Bradfords best interests. At the end of the day people power and the complete lack of confidence in the city and economy has seen the project finally nailed. Ill conceived from the start old Hodgers reckoned the scheme met "Bradford"s economic aspirations" What Bull. This is not A1 office territory potential anymore. Those days are long gone. We are a city of beggars and have lost our way. Now get that b*oody great hole filled in cos it will never happen,build on the new culture (begging)and we can fill the place to the sounds of McTells streets of London. Oh how sad the mighty has fallen A great day to celebrate the rebutt of brown paper envelopes and contract commissions.Well done Bradfordians. Wonder how much influence the young salts school kid who has started his very own campaign has had. Well done young man.throw that lad a biscuit

I think you are blind regarding head offices for national companys in Bradford, Just try opening your eyes.... Morrisons, Yorkshire Building Society, National and Provincial, The Otto group, British Wool Marketing board, Pace..... Bulmer and Lumb...Yorkshire Water/Kelder........ Filtronic.

Sorry I am still blind.
National & Provincial dissapeared in 1996 yorks BS are tiny,Morrisons agreed but would hope so given it was born here,British Wool Marketing Board tiny today,otto dont think so german sub,Filtronic down to 15 employees,yorkshire Water worst run firm in the world.
Bulmer & Lumb National?