BRADFORD Live, the group behind plans to transform the city's iconic Odeon building into a music venue, has appointed Bradford-born peer Lord Andrew Mawson as its patron.

In partnership with the NEC Group and Bradford Council, Bradford Live is to transform the derelict former cinema into a 4,000 capacity venue, which is due to open in autumn 2020.

Bradford Live is a not-for-profit social enterprise which was formed in 2012 to find a long term viable use for the former Odeon building.

It aims to create a venue for live music, exhibitions, as well as cultural and artistic events and has been granted £4 million from the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund by the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

Lord Mawson is a cross-bench peer with more than 35 years' experience as a social entrepreneur and innovator. In 2015 he became executive chairman of Well North, which is using enterprise, creativity and innovation to deliver better health and wellbeing in ten towns and cities across the north of England, including Bradford.

Bradford Live and Well North share many of the same goals, including improving community wellbeing through regeneration, education, employment and culture.

“As a local lad, I’m absolutely thrilled to appointed as the Patron of Bradford Live,” said Lord Mawson. “There is so much synergy between Well North and Bradford Live and part of my role will be to make links with some of the transformational projects already happening in Bradford – including the inspiring new Girlington health, education and enterprise campus.

“It’s all about building networks and partnerships and taking small practical steps together that people can touch and see makes a difference. The redevelopment of the Odeon, if we join the dots and connect it to local communities across Bradford, will be an important generator of jobs and skills in the city.”

Lee Craven, director of Bradford Live, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Andrew Mawson as our patron. He brings a wealth of experience and proven success in the field of public/private partnerships, and will infuse this knowledge into the Bradford Live team.We’re looking forward to working with him.”

A fresh computer-generated image of the restored Odeon transformed into the Bradford Live music venue has also been released.

Preparatory building works are expected to begin next month, including a full strip-out of the 1960s cinema, false ceilings and partitions.

Planning permission will be sought and the main construction is anticipated to start next summer.

The 1930s building has been vacant since the Odeon cinema closed in 2000.

At one point it was due to have been demolished to make way for a new development, but was eventually saved and its ownership transferred to Bradford Council.