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Bradford Council to meet Government agency over Odeon plans (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford Council to meet Government agency over Odeon plans
7:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News
By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter
Bradford Council bosses are expected to meet the Government agency which owns the city’s Odeon building to agree the way forward after a long-standing deal to redevelop the site was cancelled.
It emerged on Thursday that the Homes and Communities Agency, which inherited the building a year ago this week, had terminated a legal agreement with developer Langtree.
The company had wanted to demolish the 1930s building and build a £40 million New Victoria Place development of offices, a hotel and apartments.
The HCA took action after Langtree called for more time to market its scheme to potential occupants, and had delayed the signing of a vital Section 106 agreement, which would have triggered an eight month period in the development agreement.
This failed to comply with the terms of the agreement, said the HCA, so it took the decision to terminate it.
Now the HCA has confirmed that it will look to discuss the future of the Odeon building with Council bosses, before agreeing a way forward. It has already been reiterated that it wants to work with the Council and the local community to find solution.
A spokesman for the HCA confirmed: “We need to have a discussion with the Council as to the best way forward for the building, and about the possibility of transferring the building to the Council. We want to ensure that any outcome meets the aspirations of the people of Bradford.”
It was also confirmed that although no firm plans had been submitted to the HCA by interested groups in the wake of Thursday’s dramatic announcement, there had been requests to see inside the building.
Mark Nicholson, of Bradford Odeon Rescue Group, which is in its tenth year of campaigning to save the building, told the Telegraph & Argus that it will hold a meeting next week and it had many things to discuss.
He said: “Over the years as a group we have had people come to us who wanted to do something with the building. A few months ago we had a meeting with a local developer who was interested in the Odeon and has business plans and costings to restore it and turn it into a concert hall and conference centre.
“We hope to be speaking to him again soon and we will look to take his plans directly to the Council and the HCA.”
Council leader, Councillor David Green , had previously told the Telegraph & Argus that he was “pleased” this “particular chapter” on the Odeon had ended, giving a chance to rethink the future of the building.
He added: "We will be speaking to the Homes and Communities Agency about all the issues relating to the Odeon, including future ownership. What I hope it 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 for the building to ask them to bring forward their business cases so they can be reviewed and we can assess whether any can be progressed.”
Comments(23)
Joedavid
says...
9:57am Sat 22 Sep 12
Joedavid
says...
10:08am Sat 22 Sep 12
The Council then should in some way set up some sort of a Trust with BORG and get the restoration going straight away back to the 3000+ seater auditorium etc.
I feel this would suit the majority of the people of the district.
To save all or nothing, I feel saving the outside and building something different behind the front will go the same way as Victoria Place.
Albion.
says...
11:40am Sat 22 Sep 12
Joedavid wrote:The difference is that Westfield actually own their site.
Learn Council and follow the HCA lead in sacking the developer and sack Westfield.
I hope a viable restoration comes forward.
modman61
says...
12:55pm Sat 22 Sep 12
ZZ
bcfc1903
says...
2:34pm Sat 22 Sep 12
dontbedaft
says...
7:15pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Do not demolish the Odeon...ok. Simple. Not difficult. Get the building listed.
Avro
says...
8:42pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Joedavid
says...
11:20pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Avro wrote:A few times I seem to recall, and towards the end prior to planning permission English Hertitage seemed they were lo list part but had a sudden change of mind.
Listed status was applied for and failed
Feell English Hertitage let the people of Bradford down.
GT Horton Bantam
says...
9:53am Sun 23 Sep 12
Avro
says...
10:27am Sun 23 Sep 12
dontbedaft
says...
4:17pm Sun 23 Sep 12
still got a pulse
says...
4:24pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Joedavid wrote:Absolutely spot on. Although that depends on the council wearing it's sensible head, which doesn't happen very often!
Coucil accept the building from the HCA for a nominal price so it legal, yes the Government should stand the loss because it was a Government set up, Yorkshire Forward, that got the building into the mess it became, YF should have maintained it like the HCA are doing.
The Council then should in some way set up some sort of a Trust with BORG and get the restoration going straight away back to the 3000+ seater auditorium etc.
I feel this would suit the majority of the people of the district.
To save all or nothing, I feel saving the outside and building something different behind the front will go the same way as Victoria Place.
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
7:16pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Did my earlier post re brown envelopes get deleted? Too close to the truth or too wide of the mark. Certainly no proof but being an adult capable of free thought I'd err on the side of 'too close to the Mark'
still got a pulse
says...
7:39pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:Your brown envelopes are still safe - on previous Odeon story - and I agree with them!
I seem to recall there was an English Heritage plaque on the wall of the Odeon, proclaiming it's size and status.
Did my earlier post re brown envelopes get deleted? Too close to the truth or too wide of the mark. Certainly no proof but being an adult capable of free thought I'd err on the side of 'too close to the Mark'
The missing plaque is still under "investigation" by several individuals/groups. When I queried English Heritage re aspects of what was being done to Odeon (scaffolding/wrap), they disowned responsibility saying it was up to council to enforce conditions etc. So fat lot of use they are.
dorny1971
says...
12:06am Mon 24 Sep 12
still got a pulse
says...
12:24am Mon 24 Sep 12
dorny1971 wrote:"do gooders" "progress". So you'd like another Westfield hole? We will be putting our money where our mouths are. There is more than 1 scheme proposed that involves no contribution from tax money, and these ideas are not new. They have been held up because of various obstacles put in the way due to local politics and dubious self interest of various groups of people. Please do at least a minimum of research before commenting on a subject you obviously have very little knowledge about.
"Save the odeon" bloody do-gooders! Can't you see you're the ones holding up progress? If you all want it so badly put your money where your mouth is cos no sane investor wants it.
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
2:21pm Mon 24 Sep 12
still got a pulse wrote:Cheers, there are that many Odeon stories these days it's hard to keep track. Even the stories I hold from my youth of visiting there have melded into a confused bubble with the made up stories propagated by government bodies and their cohorts.
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:Your brown envelopes are still safe - on previous Odeon story - and I agree with them!
I seem to recall there was an English Heritage plaque on the wall of the Odeon, proclaiming it's size and status.
Did my earlier post re brown envelopes get deleted? Too close to the truth or too wide of the mark. Certainly no proof but being an adult capable of free thought I'd err on the side of 'too close to the Mark'
The missing plaque is still under "investigation" by several individuals/groups. When I queried English Heritage re aspects of what was being done to Odeon (scaffolding/wrap), they disowned responsibility saying it was up to council to enforce conditions etc. So fat lot of use they are.
BRADFORD ANGEL
says...
2:26pm Sat 29 Sep 12
GT Horton Bantam wrote:A very good idea.
Why not turn it into ANOTHER Mosque.It already has the domes on and would be ideal for lunchtime prayer for the City workers.
BRADFORD ANGEL
says...
2:29pm Sat 29 Sep 12
BRADFORD ANGEL wrote:Our Asian friend Omar khan saved the Bulls so why not the Odeon.
GT Horton Bantam wrote:A very good idea.
Why not turn it into ANOTHER Mosque.It already has the domes on and would be ideal for lunchtime prayer for the City workers.
nhoj890
says...
10:16pm Mon 15 Oct 12
cioneworld i walked out of it was so untidy
still got a pulse
says...
10:35pm Mon 15 Oct 12
nhoj890 wrote:Can't believe they're still allowing comments on this story, but not on more recent stories on this subject. But on your post, reverting back to multi screen isn't really an option - not economically viable, and the current Odeon conversion is US.As I have previously posted there are plans to revert back to major arena, at no cost to taxpayers. Check out BORG website and FaceBook group "Save Our Odeon", to get a truer picture of whats going on.
turn it back into the odeon,was great in odeon 2 becuase of the size .much better than odeon leeds bradford at thornbury the place has zero character 3 different screens showing same film ???
cioneworld i walked out of it was so untidy
Joedavid
says...
8:24am Tue 16 Oct 12
still got a pulse wrote:Yes agree with you from the pictures now coming out it does look as if the conversion work to Bingo and Odeon 1 and 2 is just falling apart and needs to come out.
nhoj890 wrote: turn it back into the odeon,was great in odeon 2 becuase of the size .much better than odeon leeds bradford at thornbury the place has zero character 3 different screens showing same film ??? cioneworld i walked out of it was so untidyCan't believe they're still allowing comments on this story, but not on more recent stories on this subject. But on your post, reverting back to multi screen isn't really an option - not economically viable, and the current Odeon conversion is US.As I have previously posted there are plans to revert back to major arena, at no cost to taxpayers. Check out BORG website and FaceBook group "Save Our Odeon", to get a truer picture of whats going on.
My hope is the orginal outer parts and that remaining that is hidden is in reasonable if not good order when revealed.
Google the Plaza, Stockport and read the Restoration story of how that building was brought back to how it was built.
Where there is a will there is a way.
Avro says...
9:16am Sat 22 Sep 12