“A BIT of imagination and belief” could make the newly listed Richard Dunn centre a key part of Bradford’s cultural and economic regeneration.

Earlier this week Historic England announced that the sports centre, earmarked for demolition later this year, was to become Bradford’s newest Grade II listed building.

The status means questions now remain over the future of the building, which closed as a leisure centre in late 2019.

The request to list the building was made by the 20th Century Society, who have told the Telegraph & Argus they were “delighted” with the decision.

And an expert in architectural history believes the listing could mean the iconic structure becomes an “anchor” for new development in the area.

The centre was shut once a replacement facility, Sedbergh Leisure Centre, was opened a short distance from the site.

Bradford Council, which owns the building, had cited the high running costs, and the cost of bringing it up to modern standards.

Before it was shut, the sports centre was one of the most energy inefficient buildings in Yorkshire.

The Council has said it is currently weighing up the next steps for the centre.

'Surprising decision' sees Richard Dunn Centre awarded listed status

Dr Otto Saumarez Smith, an architectural and urban historian with a speciality in leisure centres, was consulted on the decision to list the building.

Asked about why he felt it was so significant, he told the T&A: “The Richard Dunn is one of a very small number of still existing leisure centres, from the first wave of British leisure centre designs, which used innovative forms, often taken from international precedent: influences from Japan’s Summerland to the Houston Astrodome, to provide space for new forms of 1970s pleasure and fun.

“Bradford is an incredibly rare survival from this period – only the recently listed Swindon Oasis comes close in terms of invention.”

When asked what he would like to see the centre used as in the future, he said that despite the protected status, he did not think the building would need to be kept as a sports centre.

He said: “The tented roof structure was designed to be permanent, and the architect Trevor Skempton imagined that it might be adapted to another use.

“All it needs is a bit of imagination and belief that it can be part of Bradford’s cultural and economic regeneration.

“Its about working with the grain of a very beautiful, unique structure.

“I recognise it’s a building that splits opinion, but has enough fans that it can act as an anchor for new development.”

Coco Whittaker, who was the 20th Century Society’s caseworker on the Richard Dunn centre, said: “We are overjoyed that our listing application was successful and that this fantastic building will be saved from the bulldozers."

LOOKING BACK: Decades of pool slides fun at Richard Dunn!

The Richard Dunn Leisure Centre was built in the 1970s in the boom years of leisure centre provision in the UK and its unique tent-like roof is a superb example of the kind of bold and sculptural architectural structures produced to house these facilities in this period.

“Not forgetting the story of the local Yorkshire hero, scaffolder come boxer Richard Dunn, who downed tools on the project to fight Muhammed Ali, then had the sports centre named in his honour.

“It’s really the stuff of legend.

“We look forward to working closely with the local authority and Historic England to develop plans for the future use of the building.”