Maintenance work starts on Bradford's Odeon building (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Maintenance work starts on Bradford's Odeon building

9:50am Saturday 11th February 2012 in Bradford By Jo Winrow

Vital health and safety work was beginning today on the former Odeon cinema building in Bradford.

Scaffolding was going up around the decaying 1930s building this weekend in order to allow maintenance work to be carried out.

A structural survey has been carried out by the Homes and Communities Agency, which took over the building in September from the now-defunct regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

It found that as a result of the age and condition of the building the roof needed to be repaired to prevent water from entering which if unchecked would pose a risk to the steel frame.

The work should be completed by the end of March and does not affect the site’s long-term development plan.

Councillor David Green, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “It is important the former Odeon building remains safe in advance of the site being redeveloped. “We are continuing to work with the HCA to progress the plans for the site and bring extra investment and jobs into the city centre. The fantastic new City Park, which is nearing completion and is opposite the former Odeon building, and the proposed city centre growth zone should both attract new businesses into Bradford. Bringing the New Victoria Place scheme to a successful conclusion will build on that positive momentum.”

Developer Langtree Artisan has confirmed its commitment to redeveloping the site, demolishing the building to make way for the creation of a hotel, offices, restaurants and flats.

Permission was granted for Langtree’s New Victoria Place plans in 2009, subject to a legal agreement being signed. This has still not been completed with delays blamed on the uncertainty over its future ownership.

A spokesman for Langtree said: “A section 106 agreement for New Victoria Place has not yet been signed as Yorkshire Forward could not do so due to its abolition, but we are now in discussions with the HCA, which has taken over responsibility from Yorkshire Forward.

“We remain committed to pursuing our interest in the site.”

The company is also in discussion over the potential purchase of the site and is still trying to secure pre-lets.

Campaigners have repeatedly failed to have the Odeon declared a listed building. Last year, English Heritage rejected an application to have it listed as a scheduled monument.