Domes face demolition

Developers want to demolish the existing building, and its characteristic contribution to Bradford's city centre skyline in favour of a more modern building.

But the planning proposal, which includes four ground floor bars, a first floor nightclub, a casino and an 86-bedroom hotel, has been greeted less than enthusiastically.

There have already been complaints about the proposed demolition of the domes, and some councillors and others involved in regeneration are concerned that another hotel and more bars could be overkill.

Councillor Dave Green, Labour's regeneration spokesman, said he would be objecting to the loss of the dome and the facade of the old building.

And he said he also feared that Bradford's West End area was becoming swamped with bars.

"I welcome the redevelopment of this empty site but I would be concerned about some of the uses. We should decide whether we have reached saturation point with this type of development in the West End," he said.

The new owner of the site, London-based Grange Estates, is on the verge of submitting a planning application to Bradford Council for the new complex - which would be named Whitakers Quarters, after a brewery built on the Princes Way site in 1758.

It was a prominent landmark for years until its demolition in 1928. It made way for the new Victoria Picture House, which later became the Odeon, which closed last July.

Richard Lockey, of project Architects Kilmartin Plowman and Partners, said: "It reflects the context of its surroundings through the use of quality material, combining natural Ashlar stonework, glass and exposed steel work. The scale and form of this major development complements the adjacent Alhambra Theatre through the use of steps roof level terraces located between feature corner towers fronting Princes Way."

The proposal for the new complex comes amid plans for four other new city centre hotels - at Vicar Lane, the former Telephone House and on Leeds Road.

Bradford Council is also marketing the site of the former Alexandra Hotel on Chester Road for an international peace centre and hotel.

The new Whitaker's Quarter would be on the edge of the city's thriving West End pub circuit and close to the proposed £5 million Glydegate Development, which includes bars, restaurants, leisure and a public square.

In the past two years about ten new bars have opened in the area, including a development in the historic Windsor Baths by Leeds and London Holdings which is also responsible for Glydegate.

Today Peter McManus, of Leeds and London Holdings, said the city centre could accommodate even more bars but he believed it was facing "overkill" on hotels.

He said there were still fewer bars than in Leeds and he believed planners and developers could build on the success of the West End.

But David Scougull, of the British Urban Regeneration Association warned that the Council should hold back until a major city centre blueprint was ready.

Consultants are about to be appointed to spearhead a study on co-ordinating development in the city rather than taking a piecemeal approach.

Mr Scougull said: "The city fathers should hold fire on any scheme of this scale. It needs the master plan. They shouldn't just rush into it because there is a scheme - it doesn't mean it is a good scheme.

"People have ridden rough shod over the city in the past and this is the first time that a plan is being prepared of this type.

"Developers will have to be responsible and respect the wishes of the people of Bradford."

But the Council's executive member for the economy Councillor Andrew Mallinson said hotels were vital if the city was to prosper.

"A good range of hotels is essential if the city was to become a cultural centre, attracting international visitors.

"We have a district which is steeped in history but we also want to reflect the modern age, and that gives us a dilemma with new buildings.

"Ultimately we will have to manage the number of licensed high class establishments opening in the city, but obviously market research and testing has taken place in the area and there must be a belief that this can be successful."

And the site's agents agreed.

Alex Munro, of Knight Frank, the developer's agents, said: "This is another major development for the city, which following on from the Vicar Lane Leisure Exchange and Glydegate Square, highlights the strength of the city in the local economy.

"For years the city has lacked quality offers to compete with other nearby centres and these three major developments will provide the type of modern, high quality facility that is demanded by an increasingly sophisticated audience."

He said they had already received promising inquiries from a variety of companies interested in occupying the new development and building work is expected to start early next year.