Glimmer of hope in battle to save cinema

They want to see the historic cinema in Bradford city centre offered protection from demolition and now in a letter to campaigners English Heritage has said it will consider if it should be protected as a scheduled monument.

Previous requests for the cinema to be listed have been turned down as heritage chiefs did not feel the building merited the move.

Previously plans have been approved to demolish the 1930s cinema and replace it with a mixed-use scheme, including a hotel.

Campaigner Richard Killip, of the Save the Odeon Group said: “If English Heritage advise the secretary of state to schedule the building, it could mean that the building – beloved in Bradford and beyond – receives statutory protection from demolition.”

The Odeon was built in 1930 as the New Victoria Theatre to the design of Bradford architect William Illingworth. It was the largest cinema outside London and was designed to complement the adjacent listed Alhambra Theatre.

Located in UNESCO’s first ever City of Film the cinema has been described by Richard Gray of the Theatre Cinema Association as “most likely the largest and most impressive cine-variety theatre in the North of England”.

The former Bradford Odeon closed in 2000 and has been disused ever since.

In a letter to Mr Killip, English Heritage say: “We acknowledge the points raised in your letter and I can confirm that we will be taking your request forward and we will assess the former Bradford Odeon under the criteria for scheduled monuments.”

Once an assessment is complete a report will be sent to the Government who will make a final decision on whether to schedule the building.