The future of the dilapidated Odeon building in the centre of Bradford is set to be discussed at a meeting in City Hall next month.

Bradford Council has informed Bradford Odeon Rescue Group (BORG) that the issue will be on the agenda of the Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, February 15, and the report will be made public a few days beforehand.

The building has been earmarked for demolition to make way for the £40 million New Victoria Place development of offices, apartments, a hotel and restaurant. Developer Langtree Artisan has received planning approval and conservation area consent and the development is ready to start when anchor tenants had been secured.

Councillor David Green, the Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said he wanted assurances that the site would continue to be used to regenerate the city.

He said: “There has been no change to the ownership of the Odeon, except insofar as it being one of Yorkshire Forward’s assets which will be likely at some stage to be transferred into the hands of the Homes and Communities Agency.”

He said it was important that the Odeon and other sites were not “simply sold off to the highest bidder”.

Asked whether he was concerned about the state of the Odeon given that the £24.4 million City Park scheme on its doorstep is due to open this year, Coun Green said: “I would be looking for clarity on plans for the Odeon within the next nine months.”

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Council’s Liberal Democrat group, said the Odeon should be returned to the Council for it to make the decision on its future.

“We have always held the view that the towers on the building should be retained,” she said.

“I know what’s not an option and that’s to have a £24.4m park next to half a police station wrapped in plastic and a tatty Odeon building.”

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, leader of the Conservative group, said: “I would like to see the underlying character of the building retained in any new development.”

e-mail: ben.barnett@telegraphandargus.co.uk