bradford live
Bradford Council will be looking further at the Bradford Live proposal for the former Odeon in the city centre.
Bradford Live are presenting further details to next Tuesday’s Executive meeting about their vision for the former Odeon building currently owned by the local authority.
 They propose to keep the exterior of the building whilst transforming the interior that would hold a main auditorium with a similar capacity to the Hammersmith or the Manchester Apollo.
Bradford Live would like to follow in the same footsteps as these two former cinemas from the interwar years that have also been transformed into live entertainment venues.
They want to rip out the 1960s insertions made by the Rank Group and return the auditorium to its original 1930s design, capable of accommodating up to 4,500 people.
In addition the ballroom would be used as a secondary event space.
Their business plan indicates they anticipate holding around 150 events a year in the main auditorium and up to 200 events a year in the smaller ballroom venue.
They have also identified a preferred operator partner who is confident that a renovated Odeon can secure bookings and run a programme of events that will make it financially sustainable.
Bradford Live’s consultants, AECOM, have estimated the project will cost £18.248m, including contingency of 10%, but excluding VAT and inflation. If the ballroom wing was developed later, the costs would fall to £16.443m.
The project can only be delivered if the funding is secured, both from the private and public sector.
Certain funding sources are being explored such as the Regional Growth Fund, Heritage Enterprise Scheme, Arts Council England, Big Lottery, Leeds City Region and European Structural Funds.
Bradford Council Leader, Coun David Green, said: “I welcome the progress Bradford Live are making with their business plan for the former Odeon building and look forward to receiving more detail about how the funding can be secured.”
If the Executive backs the proposal at the Executive meeting on 2 December, the Council will prepare and enter into a Development Agreement with Bradford Live that will establish the legal terms of a relationship to pursue the effective delivery of this scheme.
 

 

 

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