Regular readers of this newspaper will know that when the former Odeon cinema and Granada bingo hall was first vacated and put on the market we called on Bradford Council to buy it and convert it into a concert hall for the city.

Subsequent investigations by the consultants behind the hugely-successful Sage Arts Centre, in Gateshead (among others), produced a report which suggested that such a plan would not be viable because there was no public funding for the estimated cost of the project (up to £65 million at the time) and it was believed such a venue would not be able to attract a big enough audience to sustain it commercially, particularly with the Leeds Arena plans coming to fruition as a major competitor.

Reluctantly, we were forced to come to the view that redevelopment of the site was the only realistic option unless another viable proposal came forward.

They key words in that sentence are “realistic” and “viable”. To date, there has never been a realistic, financially viable alternative proposal to redevelopment on the table.

Which is why the plan put forward by local businessman Lee Craven and his team is a much more interesting proposition.

Is it “realistic?” We don’t yet know – but the fact that Mr Craven understands that it might cost “up to £19 million” to refurbish the building is at least a much more sensible appraisal of the challenge than any we have yet encountered.

Is it “viable?” We don’t know that yet, either – and neither will Mr Craven until he has seen the results of the detailed structural survey the Council has commissioned.

If it goes in his favour then we’ll wish him every luck in fulfilling the second test. If it doesn’t – and he sensibly walks away – then even the most ardent fan of this jaded structure will surely have to realise that some dreams are just not meant to be?