Sponsored by
Enthusiast 'has £3m for Odeon'
The mystery investor who wants to spend £3m to save Bradford's former Odeon cinema building is a Yorkshire property entrepreneur, it has emerged.
Nirmal Singh wants to buy the ailing building, which has been earmarked for demolition, and is undeterred by falling property prices and the credit crunch.
The Bradford businessman is backing plans drawn up by Bradford Odeon Rescue Group (BORG), which include a 2,200-seat restored auditorium, restored ballroom for conference facilities, a three-star hotel with
bars and restaurant, a 700-cap-acity nightclub, parking and a third dome to match the building's existing two distinctive domes.
But the owner, regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, says it is not for sale.
Bradford Centre Regeneration (BCR) wants to use the city centre site for a new 55m development of offices, apartments and a hotel called New Victoria Place but a planning application has yet to be submitted.
Mr Singh said: "I have seen the building in Bradford for many years and no one paying attention to it. Even though the property market is experiencing difficult times my 3m cheque is ready to buy the building.
"We have lost too many wonderful buildings in the past and what few remain must be preserved and brought back to life for future generations. To lose the Odeon would pull the heart out of a once-great city.
"I was most impressed with the fight by Bradford Odeon Rescue Group and the people of Bradford to save the Odeon. Their vision for this iconic building has shown it is possible to retain the past whilst building for the future. These excellent plans show what can be done if people care enough and to demolish the Odeon now would be an insult to the majority of Bradfordians."
Mr Singh, who was born in India, came to Bradford in 1967 and set up Nirmal Razai Mart, which made bedding. He now owns seven property companies.
BORG chairman Norman Littlewood said: "We have something here that could pay its own way and something that people want. At a public meeting Yorkshire Forward's Jan Anderson said that she would get the board to sell the building straight away if a buyer could be found. We now have a buyer."
Controversy has surrounded the former cinema since BCR ran a contest for developers to come up with ideas for the site.
BCR has claimed it is not economically viable to save the existing building but BORG insists its plan proves otherwise.
John Pennington, of BORG, said: "The best way to regenerate anywhere is to use the people who live there. The regeneration company told us to come up with a plan. We have done that and were met by total silence.
"We now have a plan and a buyer. In 2006 Bradford Council requested that BORG would work with BCR. They (BCR) have only ever called two meetings with BORG."
An application to grant the building listed status was turned down earlier this year but two appeals have since been lodged with the Department for Media, Culture and Sport.
Dave Custance, Yorkshire Forward's head of strategic development and property, said: "Yorkshire Forward ran an open competition beginning in 2005 for dev-elopment proposals for the Odeon building and site in accordance with European and UK Government procurement regulations.
"We encouraged all those with an interest to put proposals forward and we made it clear that we would consider anything that proved financially viable including retention/refurbishment of the building. None of the bids proposed retaining the building.
"No formal approaches have been made by BORG or their supporters either at the time of the competition or since. As a result of that competition Yorkshire Forward entered into a legal agreement in October 2007 with Langtree Artisan as the preferred developer for the site, which is not for sale."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
