Exclusive: Millions meant for regeneration have bypassed city’s economy

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five-figure payments for her work. There have been 30 firms paid a combined total of £1.4m for plans to develop the former Bradford Odeon cinema, which has lain derelict for more than 10 years, into a hotel, offices and apartments.

The project has seen £417,262 spent on legal and strategic advice while the planning application process alone ran up a bill of £332,780.

The project also saw £351,571 of public money spent on architects’ designs and models.

Artisan Langtree won a competition to develop the site five years ago but work has still not started on the scheme, which is waiting for the site’s owner, Yorkshire Forward, to sign a legal agreement before planning permission is granted.

Other spending includes £345,799 on consultants to create a “Learning Quarter” in the city and another £91,800 on a World Mile project promoting business between the city centre and inner-city Manningham.

Mr Cowlam defended the impact the spending has had on the city.

“Since 2003, the city centre has attracted around £300m worth of investment,” he said. “This includes the £50m investment in the Southgate scheme, which has provided a HQ office for Provident Financial Group and also a Jury’s Inn hotel.

“The developers behind the scheme, McAleer and Rushe, were impressed with the marketing and promotion of the city centre which led them to investing in Bradford.”

Norman Littlewood, chairman of the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group, said: “It is public money but it seems it is something which we cannot do anything about.

“Leeds is getting a brand new arena and we can only look on with envy.

“We in Bradford always seem to be lagging behind. It’s something of an embarrassment.”