THE major Bradford Live project has reached "practical completion", it has emerged tonight - as bosses revealed the overall cost had risen to an astronomical £50.5 million.
Bradford Council and developers Bradford Live have this evening issued a new statement on the refurbishment of the city's former Odeon cinema into an entertainment venue, saying it is now ready for the final fit out.
Questions are continuing to be asked about the huge scheme, however.
No opening date has yet been formally announced, and no shows or events are currently listed under the 'what's on' section of the Bradford Live website.
And Birmingham-based NEC Group has not publicly commented on its involvement with Bradford Live for several months.
In May, the Telegraph & Argus used the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to ask Bradford Council questions including "how much taxpayers' money has the Council so far spent in total on the Bradford Live project as a whole?" and "what is the current overall cost of the Bradford Live project as a whole?"
In response, Bradford Council has now confirmed the overall cost of the Bradford Live project currently stands at £50.5m.
Of this, £43.75m is from the Council and the remainder is from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
In 2019, the T&A reported that the overall cost of the Bradford Live project was more than £22m.
On the T&A's FOI questions about how much taxpayers' money had gone towards the project, the Council said: "The Council has incurred £38.6m from the start of the scheme to the end of June 2024.
"The Council has allocated a further £5.15m to the scheme.
"When added to the £38.6m already incurred, the Council has allocated a total of £43.75m in grants and loan."
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport and a director of Bradford Live, said: "This is an exciting day for Bradford and a milestone in our ambitious efforts to regenerate the city centre.
"It has been a joy to watch this much-loved building coming back to life.
"Not only has an iconic building been saved but it has been given an incredibly exciting new future as one of the region’s best live entertainment venues.
"Bradford Live will play a crucial role in the regeneration of our city centre, improving Bradford as an entertainment destination, attracting new visitors and offering employment and economic opportunity for our district."
Lee Craven, founding director of Bradford Live, said: "Reaching practical completion is a vital milestone in bringing this beloved building back to its former glory.
"We've battled tough challenges for over three years, but the restored venue justifies all the hardship.
"We've worked closely with Bradford Council throughout the works and would like to thank them for their unwavering support and commitment.
"This investment will serve the city and people of Bradford for decades to come."
Work on the landmark building on Godwin Street, next to the Alhambra Theatre and opposite City Park, has been led by Keighley construction firm, RN Wooler.
Gareth Wooler, director at R N Wooler, said: "It has been an honour and a privilege to restore this local heritage building.
"Construction on Bradford Live commenced in 2020.
"It's been quite a journey but one which all our colleagues and fellow associates on the design team have relished.
"There have been many challenges but nothing we collectively haven't been able to overcome.
"We would like to thank our incredible team and the wider project personnel for their endeavours in extending the legacy of this Bradford icon."
The news comes on what would have been the 96th birthday of Norman Littlewood, who was instrumental in saving the former Odeon.
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "Bradford Council and Bradford Live are pleased to announce that construction work at the new Bradford Live venue has reached 'practical completion'.
"This means all the major building work at the former Odeon cinema in the city centre has been finished and it is ready for the final fit out.
"After being empty for around 20 years, the art deco building, which originally opened in 1930 and in the 1950s and 1960s hosted legends including Buddy Holly and The Beatles - on the first date of their first ever UK tour - has been beautifully restored and transformed into a world-class, 3,800-capacity music and entertainment venue.
"The legal processes relating to handover to the NEC Group will now be progressed."
In December last year, a spokesperson for the NEC Group said: "Developer, Bradford Live, will be handing the venue over to operator, the NEC Group, by mid-2024, before the group completes the final fit out in the following months. The venue's launch season will commence in autumn 2024."
But the NEC Group has repeatedly declined to reaffirm its commitment to Bradford Live or answer key questions when approached by the T&A - and the first two shows announced for the venue were cancelled in May.
The T&A also broke the news in June that the Campaign for Real Ale's national Great British Beer Festival Winter would not take place at Bradford Live during City of Culture year next year amid the lingering uncertainty.
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