Bradford One Submits Odeon Plans

Today Bradford One – a Community Benefit Society led by a board of Bradford business and creative professionals and with more than 430 members – submitted its plans to redevelop the former Bradford Odeon into an attractive and unique new venue with a capacity of 2,487 (all-seated) or 3,107 (part-standing) for live music and stand-up comedy gigs suited to larger spaces than are currently available in Bradford.

The auditorium will also adapt to accommodate smaller scale music, theatre, comedy and other live entertainment and cultural events for audiences of up to 500.

To the rear of the auditorium will be extensive licensed bar and food outlets serving audiences attending concerts and other events.

In addition the group will develop the former restaurant and ballroom on the Thornton Road side of the building into new restaurants/bistro/café bars that will be open during the day and not just when events are taking place in the main auditorium.

The first floor bistro/café bar will also serve a large open semi-public space that will offer views over Bradford’s City Park via a full height glazed facade, helping to connect the interior of the building with the city beyond.

On the second floor the creation of a new glazed space connected to the upper circle will provide a dedicated hospitality, conference and meeting facility, again with stunning views over Bradford.

To the rear of the building Bradford One propose a new development that will include student accommodation for 312 students and a convenience store that will serve the surrounding area, which will be sold to private developers/investors with the capital receipt going towards the cost of refurbishing the former Odeon building.

The remainder of the costs will be met from a combination of grants and limited borrowing from social and commercial lenders.

The redevelopment of the former Odeon, expected to cost a total of £20m for the entire site, is to proceed in two stages; (1) refurbishment of the Odeon, and (2) development of the rear of the site for student housing.

This combined construction project will yield approximately 220 jobs and £15M in ancillary economic benefits to suppliers, local businesses, and the general economy; and a further net impact to the local economy of £112 per visitor, or roughly £33M in benefit to Bradford per annum.

The Bradford One vision builds on this economic benefit, leveraging the asset to deliver the following social impacts: (1) Employment & Training, (2) Cultural Education, (3) Community Engagement, (4) Community use (5) and Development of local artistic talent.

Any profits from the operation of the redeveloped Odeon will be reinvested in the development of local music and cultural facilities and education, supporting community cohesion and retained within the local area.

Nearly 1300 people responded to Bradford One’s online survey and overwhelmingly backed the plans to create a new music venue for Bradford. More than 90% of people said that Bradford needs a new mid-size venue and that they would like to attend gigs and other events there.

It is the combination of community support, Bradford based graft, commercial focus, and full utilisation of the space during most hours of the day that will ensure this iconic building is reinstated as the linchpin for the Bradford City Centre pedestrian corridor connecting Bradford College and the University of Bradford to the new Broadway Bradford shopping centre and the rest of the city centre.