Mystery over future of Grade II-listed Richard Dunn Sports Centre amid masterplan absence

But a history group has urged the Council to retain the iconic building in any future plans, saying it is “woven into the social and sporting heritage of Bradford”.

The leisure centre – which was vacated in late 2019, was originally due to be flattened this Summer.

But a surprise decision by Historic England to list the building in April left the future of the site uncertain.

The Grade II listing, which describes the building as a “bold and accomplished design for a 1970s local leisure” would mean Richard Dunn had a much greater level of protection from the wrecking ball.

Last week Bradford Council revealed a £50m bid to transform Odsal Stadium into the country’s largest stadium with a permanent roof.

The development would be accompanied by new training grounds for Bradford’s football and rugby league clubs, a Rugby Football Leagues National Skills and Education Centre, a hotel and conference centre, a solar farm, community grass pitches and a new car park.

The bid is for Government Levelling Up Fund cash to boost the Bradford South constituency.

Early designs show that the development would cross Rooley Avenue and onto the former Richard Dunn Sports Centre site – with an artist’s impression showing structures and playing fields.

What there is not, however, is any sign of the Richard Dunn centre and its distinctive dome.

The Telegraph & Argus asked Bradford Council what the short term and long-term future of the listed building was in light of the new plans.

A spokesman said: “We are exploring all options around the development of this area as presented by our Levelling Up Fund proposals.”

At a meeting of the Council’s Executive on Tuesday, members will be given an update on the Levelling Up Fund bid.

Members will be asked to give the go ahead for “feasibility work that would encompass the Park and Ride proposal, land decontamination, Solar Farm proposal and the development of the Richard Dunn site”.

Named after the Bradford-born boxer famed for fighting Muhammad Ali, the Richard Dunn ccentre shut its doors in November 2019 – coinciding with the opening of the nearby £17.5m Sedbergh Leisure Centre complex.

The huge cost of heating the cavernous building, and its ongoing maintenance costs, were cited as reasons for its closure.

Since then there has been uncertainty over the building and the surrounding land.

Originally the centre was due to be demolished in 2020. But the arrival of Covid-19 led to the plans changing. It became a standby morgue during the height of the pandemic.

Since then the site has been mooted as hosting a “food hub of the North” – a possible replacement for the St James Market off Wakefield Road.

The Grade II listing came at the request of the 20th Century Society – a group set up to preserve buildings from the last 100 years.

On the news that the wider Richard Dunn site was included in the plans, a spokesman for the society said: “These radical new plans for how the historic Odsal Stadium could be transformed, demonstrate the scale of ambition and opportunity there is in Bradford.

“With City of Culture 2025 on the horizon, it’s an incredibly exciting time for the city.

“As plans for the wider Odsal site are developed, the dormant Richard Dunn centre is ready and waiting to be incorporated into any new scheme – indeed, it was always intended to form part of a wider ‘Odsal sports complex’ with the neighbouring stadium.

“C20 Society believe there’s ample scope for the listed structure of the sports centre to be repurposed as, for example, an indoor training area, covered practice pitch or to support other facilities under its iconic ‘big top’ roof.

“The Richard Dunn is woven into the social and sporting heritage of Bradford; it would be only fitting for this legacy to continue, as an exciting new chapter is ready to be written.”

A spokesman for Bradford Civic Society said: “With any listing decision there is always a very delicate balance between preservation and future viability of use.

“Bradford Civic Society has always recognised the unique architecture of Richard Dunn, but given the advancement of plans for the site connected to wider city regeneration efforts, and the strength of local feeling, on this occasion we declined to make representations when consulted on the proposed listing.

“Whatever the future use of the site, it would be encouraging to see the unique architecture of the roof retained in some way – as that was the main focus of Historic England’s listing.

“However we do accept that wider commercial conditions may prevent this. The most important consideration is that of local people, and wider Bradfordians.

“They mustn’t be hampered with an underdeveloped site for years to come.”