Odeon plan goes in (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

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Odeon plan goes in

7:39am Monday 20th October 2008 in Bradford By Will Kilner

From left, David Custance from Yorkshire Forward, Glyn Turner and Simon Peters from Langtree Artisan and Stewart Currie of Bradford Council

A planning application for a landmark development on the former Odeon cinema site has been submitted to Bradford Council, it was announced today.

Developer Langtree Artisan and regional development agency Yorkshire Forward are seeking permission for the £55 million New Victoria Place project.

Once the application has been formally registered and validated by the Council, it will be available for viewing at the planning reception on the third floor of the Jacobs Well building, or online via the Council’s website.

A 3-D model of New Victoria Place will also be on display, showing how the scheme will have work and leisure space, including a hotel, the city centre’s first A-grade offices, apartments, bars, restaurants and cafes, all centred around a vibrant public square.

If planning permission is granted in the spring, it is anticipated that work could start on site in 2010, with building work taking five years.

The scheme will create around 750 jobs, transforming the corner of Princes Way and Thornton Road.

Glyn Turner, from Langtree Artisan, said: “The feedback we have received following the public exhibition has directly influenced the application we have submitted today.”

Earlier this month, project bosses hosted a six-day public exhibition to showcase the scheme at The Great Victoria Hotel, Bradford. A total of 150 Bradfordians attended the exhibition, while 421 people visited newvictoriaplace.com – the website created to gauge public opinion. People were asked to complete a questionnaire to provide their ideas and a total of 90 feedback forms were received.

When asked what uses they would like New Victoria Place to include, 82 per cent agreed with the proposal to include a public performance space, 79 per cent thought shops were needed and 82 per cent believed restaurants would be of benefit.

Three quarters of respondents also agreed with the open public plaza element of the scheme.

Dave Custance, assistant director of environment at Yorkshire Forward, said: “In challenging economic circumstances the progression of the New Victoria Place scheme gives a clear signal to businesses and the people of Bradford that this is a city of opportunity and a prime investment location in Yorkshire and Humber.”

Comments(14)

Rambo says...
9:10am Mon 20 Oct 08

so it could be finished by 2015? and that's their estimate. So add another 10-15 onto it and thats probably the real date.

I went to leeds yesterday and noticed the new buildings literally growing like bamboo around the train station, where it seems they can put a new building up in a matter of weeks. Here it takes a generation.

Like I've said a hundred times before, after all the delays and dissapointments, Bradfordians like us will only be positive when we actually see something completed. And this one's going to be a long time coming.