CONTRACTORS are on site at Bradford’s Odeon to begin stripping out the building ahead of the project to transform it into a live music venue.

It has been confirmed that specialist contractors are now working at the vacant 1930s building ready to strip out the 1960s cinema additions.

Developer Bradford Live, the group behind the redevelopment of the landmark building, submitted a planning application earlier this month to convert the site into a music venue.

The main refurbishment is expected to start next summer and will include the substantial repair and renovation of the existing building along with a small extension to provide extra catering and other facilities.

But first the strip-out must take place.

Bradford Live’s Lee Craven explained what the contractors will be working on, saying: “The contractors are preparing the site and building for the main strip-out that will start at the beginning of the New Year.

“Additional lighting has been installed and further surveys to check for any residual asbestos undertaken. A ‘birdcage’ scaffold will soon be assembled in the stage house to allow our structural engineers full access to this key area of the building.

“The strip-out will work from the front of the building backwards, doing non-structural strip-out first before moving on to taking down the main structure.

“A new opening - which will become the final main stage access to the building - will soon be made at the rear of the stage house and all of the demolition equipment and dismantled materials will be moved through this opening.

“The steel work supporting the old Odeon cinemas is massive, so much care will be needed to avoid any damage to the original structure of the 1930s building.”

Plans for the iconic William Illingworth-designed building show how the building will be transformed into a multi-use live entertainment and events venue with a capacity of around 4,000.

The building itself will be held by the Bradford Live social enterprise, while the venue will be run commercially by the NEC Group.

Comparisons are made in the design documents to the successful Brixton Academy, Hammersmith Apollo and Manchester Apollo mid-size venues which were all created from former super-cinemas.

They have all found “a successful new use in today’s live entertainment market” it states, successfully bridging the gap between arenas and ‘town hall’ type venues.

A separate application has also been submitted to install digital screens on the building. One would be on the front of the building and the other on the Thornton Road side. A decision on this is expected in February.