5:10pm Thursday 7th August 2008
By Mel Fairhurst
The final designs for the replacement of Bradford’s dilapidated former Odeon cinema are due to be submitted to Council planners this autumn.
The derelict building is due to be demolished to make way for a £55 million development called New Victoria Place.
Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, which bought the site for £2m five years ago, says the redevelopment of the area is crucial to the city’s Park at the Heart regeneration scheme.
New Victoria Place, which will be constructed by a consortium called Langtree Artisan, will comprise offices, apartments and a hotel. The development was chosen following a competition.
A spokesman for Yorkshire Forward and Bradford Centre Regeneration (BCR): “We are looking forward to seeing the final designs. We do hope they will be submitted at around autumn time.”
Plans to demolish the building have been opposed by campaigners who have formed the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group.
The body has now been joined by leading artist Jane Fielder who has created a watercolour depicting the building which she says is causing a stir at her gallery in Park Road, Bingley.
She said: “I do think it is really beautiful and part of Bradford. It would be sad to see it go. I like the shape and the colours of it. I think it is a landmark building.
“The statue of J B Priestley is also in the painting. He can’t believe his eyes about it all!
“It has caused a stir. A lot of people have been reminiscing about the time they spent there.”
Borg chairman Norman Littlewood said 8,000 people have signed a petition opposing plans to replace the building.
The group has drawn up its own plans, retaining the towers and creating a third, creating a 130-bed hotel, a car park, a nightclub and a 2,200-seat auditorium to run as a concert hall and cinema.
Its financial backer is Bradford businessman Nirmal Singh who has put up £3 million to support its offer to buy the site from Yorkshire Forward. Mr Littlewood said: “We won’t give up. If an application is submitted, there will be a lot of opposition and appeals and there has got to be a public inquiry.”
An appeal against a sixth failed attempt to get the 1930s building listed, and thereby protected, is being considered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
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