Council set to back £18m concert venue in Bradford

Developer Bradford Live will present their vision to the council’s executive committee next Tuesday.

A report by council officers concludes that “the proposals are based on sound construction and development principles that illustrate the redevelopment...is technically possible.”

However, it notes that capital funding has yet to be secured and large public sector or Lottery grants will be needed.

The business plan indicates the venue holding around 150 events a year in the main auditorium and up to 200 events a year in the smaller ballroom venue.

The estimated cost has been put at £18.248m. If the ballroom wing was developed later, the costs would fall to £16.443m.

Funding sources being explored include the Regional Growth Fund, Arts Council, Leeds City Region and European Structural Funds.

If the executive committee supports the scheme, the council will prepare a development agreement to help deliver it.

Businessman Lee Craven, of Bradford Live, said: “There’s much political will to see the project happen, provided it is grounded in a commercially viable way, which we believe it is. The funding is needed only for the capital conversion costs; there will be no public subsidy needed to meet the running costs of the completed venue.”