It's unfortunate that much of Leeds' best architecture is not in the very centre of the city (Millenium Square, town hall, LGI)

Speaking of weather, the Guardian Guide described the Kaiser Chiefs as hailing from 'up there in not-so-sunny Leeds'.

Charming.

Well that hardly says anything- The Guardian is based in Manchester which has a way higher rainfall than Leeds and probably less days of sun, and Leeds is hardly up from Manchester- more across, and a tiny bit up.

Well that hardly says anything- The Guardian is based in Manchester which has a way higher rainfall than Leeds and probably less days of sun, and Leeds is hardly up from Manchester- more across, and a tiny bit up.
It seems you don't like Manchester very much.

Well that hardly says anything- The Guardian is based in Manchester which has a way higher rainfall than Leeds and probably less days of sun, and Leeds is hardly up from Manchester- more across, and a tiny bit up.

It's many years since the Guardian was based in Manchester, although the Northern edition is still printed in the city.

Well itrs true- the west has a much higher rainfall than the East. Apparently Leeds' rainfall is lower than Milans.
Leeds average annual rainfall: 635-760mm
Manchester average annual rainfall: 809mm
Its just common sense really- common knowledge more rain falls in the west, and Leeds is just after the pennines so alot falls there before it gets to Leeds.

It's many years since the Guardian was based in Manchester, although the Northern edition is still printed in the city.

It's still registered at Companies House with a Manchester "registered office".

It's still registered at Companies House with a Manchester "registered office".

That may be true, yet it didn't stop them from printing a front page article on the Commonwealth games,which included the words,

"Manchester remains a decaffeinated version of London, and it will take a lot more than loft apartments and pavement cafes to change that"

Well the phrase 'decaffinated version of London' could apply to any major UK city as well as Manchester really- particularly Glasgow. So I dont think that particularly says anything.
No city will ever be like London. The Northern Cities are generally alot more modern, daring, continental...etc and are probably the cities of the future that will represent these years in the future. London has changed its face over thousands of years and never really dated, but London is very English, traditional English...etc where as Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool...etc represent the more modern, new British style. Things are generally more European up here, in attitude, style...etc

Everywhere has its own micro climate at some point as weather varies from place to place every time. It is not as if we are the tropical side of the hills.

Everywhere has its own micro climate at some point as weather varies from place to place every time. It is not as if we are the tropical side of the hills.
And "tropical" would hardly describe the weather anywhere in Britain so far this month. :(

well techincally tropical isn't all good is it because of the wet season. Leeds generally will have a higher temperature than the country anyway, and I know its not tropical or anything, but the East is drier than the West- its just the way things work and it cant really be debated.

Application 20/100/05/FU
Received on 10/03/2005

Description
14 storey block of 142 flats with basement car parking
Location
AIREBANK WORKS SOUTH ACCOMMODATION ROAD LEEDS 10 3135-3241 MAJ
Library


Application 20/101/05/FU
Received on 10/03/2005

Description
part 5 storey and part 2no 3rd and 4th storey extension to form 7 one bedroom flats
Location
THE CHANDLERS THE CALLS LEEDS 2 3067-3319
Library


Application 20/103/05/LI
Received on 10/03/2005

Description
listed building application for part 5 storey and part 2nd 3rd and 4th storey extension to form 7 one bedroom flats
Location
THE CHANDLERS THE CALLS LEEDS 2 3067-3319
Library

And one of them is a 14-storey midrise.

It's unfortunate that much of Leeds' best architecture is not in the very centre of the city (Millenium Square, town hall, LGI)

Speaking of weather, the Guardian Guide described the Kaiser Chiefs as hailing from 'up there in not-so-sunny Leeds'.

Charming.
But then they think the sun never shines north of Birmingham.

City Square House

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/p8aa11f6754d4e323f3f6aea4431a0de1/f4ca4b07.jpg

This site, on the corner of City Square, has been derelict and empty for yonks. But, according to yesterday's Yorkshire Post:

The McAleer and Rushe Group has recently acquired the City Square House site from AWG Property Ltd for a price of more than £11m. McAleer and Rushe will speculatively develop the 150,000 sq ft scheme (my emphasis) and it is anticipated that work will start on this site this year following a full review of the design.

Much of the delay in work starting on this prominent site has been the insistence of the original developer on obtaining a substantial pre-let so it's good to hear that the new developers are willing to waive that condition. I just don't want to think too much about what a design review might imply.

I notice Manchester has just had its 60-storey Piccadilly Eastgate tower approved. Wonder when we will finally get decisions on Leeds 40-storey proposals.

Has criterion been approved yet or not?

It's not even been formally submitted yet.

City Square House

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/p8aa11f6754d4e323f3f6aea4431a0de1/f4ca4b07.jpg

This site, on the corner of City Square, has been derelict and empty for yonks. But, according to yesterday's Yorkshire Post:

The McAleer and Rushe Group has recently acquired the City Square House site from AWG Property Ltd for a price of more than £11m. McAleer and Rushe will speculatively develop the 150,000 sq ft scheme (my emphasis) and it is anticipated that work will start on this site this year following a full review of the design.

Much of the delay in work starting on this prominent site has been the insistence of the original developer on obtaining a substantial pre-let so it's good to hear that the new developers are willing to waive that condition. I just don't want to think too much about what a design review might imply.

Ballcocks, I liked the original design.

Ballcocks, I liked the original design.

I agree. I reckon that design is right for that area.

Cirterion has apparently been approved, and outline planning permission given- but nothing has been officially submitted yet- I don't think...

How can it be approved and have outline permission? That doesn't even make sense.

CP was chosen as a competition winner. That's all. Like how the 4th Grace won a competition. Nothing has been in for approval yet. It's still in pre planning.

And again with the misguided view about being a rainy city. Do some research, you'll find out we've got lower rainfall per mm than a lot of places. I've read from several different sources that even London rains more than Manc. But then if you're prepared to take everything as read in the papers like you evidently seem to do no1, then you can't really blame people for calling you a wtat when you spout more unsubstantiated rubbish.

Cirterion has apparently been approved, and outline planning permission given- but nothing has been officially submitted yet- I think...

What a twat!!

1)maybe London does get more rain than lots of places, which I probably would agree on seeing as everytime Ive been its been rainign generally, and theres no mountains or hills to take it from the west like the pennines in the North.

2) Its been approved and the council gave it outline planning permission later because they are pushing the scheme, along with loads of other things.

1) Geography evidently isn't your strong point.

2) No, it hasn't been approved. Use your eyes to read the words. It's not been submitted for approval, it's nowhere near ready for it. It's at pre-detailed planning, that being, it's still being drawn up. The council chose it as their favourite design. That is all. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm not saying it won't be approved because it obviously will, but stop trying to pass off every little chinese whisper you hear as being fact. It's annoying as fuck having to do so, but the amount of times people have had to wade in and tell you to shut the fuck up because of your total ignorance towards the facts is getting ridiculous now. Research things and gain some perspective.

Fuck me, we've got Earlybird and you lot have this tit head.

1)maybe London does get more rain than lots of places, which I probably would agree on seeing as everytime Ive been its been rainign generally, and theres no mountains or hills to take it from the west like the pennines in the North.

2) Its been approved and the council gave it outline planning permission later because they are pushing the scheme, along with loads of other things.

What a twat!!

2) Its been approved and the council gave it outline planning permission later because they are pushing the scheme, along with loads of other things.
:ohno:
Thats bollocks. Why on earth would they (or anyone else) approve CP and then give it outline approval after they had already approved it. You are supposed to give something outline approval before you approve it.
Thus far, like degen said, its only been chosen by the council to go forward as a full proposal, as the winner of a competition. Nothing has been submitted.

1)maybe London does get more rain than lots of places, which I probably would agree on seeing as everytime Ive been its been rainign generally, and theres no mountains or hills to take it from the west like the pennines in the North.

2) Its been approved and the council gave it outline planning permission later because they are pushing the scheme, along with loads of other things.
London seems to be hot and sunny, even when eveywhere else is cold. On average, there is no place in Britain as hot and sunny as London.

Lastly, dgnr8 is right. The Simpson-designed towers may have won the competition, but they have yet to get planning permission.

I'd imagine those in the South West would argue with you there.

Looks like Manchester is giving us a real spanking in terms of development, the approved and proposed buildings on the Manchester thread are awesome. Looks like our good old city of Leeds is playing major catch up again. Just as we seem to be making a little ground with buildings like CP we have the carpet whipped from underneath us with the announcment of several 150+ M buildings in Manc and the approval of that Eastgate Tower, it does look amazing, 188 metres it looks much better than CP as well.

Lets surrender now before Manchester starts announcing the 200 + metre buildings.

Why the constant comparisons to Manchester?

Leeds' national reputation seems to be way behind cities like Newcastle, Liverpool and Nottingham.

The city has marketed itself as having an impressive shopping centre and not much else. Now that bigger and better schemes have been built elsewhere, and Leeds retail has stagnated, there isn't much Leeds can claim over other cities (apart from a World cup winning rugby team - which no-one outside Leeds cares a jot about).

Leeds doesn't have the transport, sporting, cultural or retail facilities that are the pride of other major cities, and the attempt by the current planning department to define Leeds by building more skyscrapers is doomed to fail if other cities are building better and taller.

I definetley agree that Leeds' reputation is behind many places inj the UK- thats because its come onto the big city scene quite quickly and quite recently, and unless your in the region you dont know much about it. Manchester and Birmingham have always been known as big cities. Once this marketing Leeds tihng gets going later this year it could raise the profile.
Leeds' retail has stagnated, but thats only because things like Trinity Quarter and Harewood Quarter won't get going- if they got going lots more shops would move in. It does have the Victoria Quarter though, which is dubbed Knightsbridge of the North, but the only thing is that its only for a select amount of shoppers.
Leeds has potential for lots of new transport and better transport. Leeds Interchange and Leeds Station, as well as the superbusways, city bus station...etc are things that prove that people want transprot improving in the city and that slowly it is. But really the major step is supertram- as soon as that gets in if it does, the city will get going again. Thats all thats needed on the transport scene for the time being.
Leeds has the sports and the sporting people, just not the venues. Headingley, Elland Road, South Leeds Stadium, International Pool all have potential, but need to be imrpoved (except maybe the international pool). Headingley does host some big games though, but could be much bigger and much better.
Culturally, its the same. Leeds has lots of street events and stuff, and you can see there is culture, just not shown in the best way to the public. If money was put into China Town it would become a major asset to the city. We'll have to see what happens with Leeds Arena too.

You have to wonder about the validity of Born In The North's existence...

Leeds has a China town? Where?

I think there's one shop in eastgate called 'china town' that's about it.

Also, of course Manchester has better and bigger proposals than Leeds, it's more than 3 times the size.

Also, of course Manchester has better and bigger proposals than Leeds, it's more than 3 times the size.

Leeds No1 and Greg will argue that you are wrong I'll bet.

They can argue all they want, it won't make it any less true.

There are a group of Chinese shops around the proposed Harewood quarter area, and a chinese arcade. And thats exactly the point- no-one knows about it or wher eit is because no money has been put into it. Its not exactly the place you'd make a visit too especially.

No1 - have you ever been to China town in Manc or London?

If so, how does the one in Leeds compare?

It doesn't compare, it may become more popular though once the areas been developed and cleaned up a bit, it's a bit out of the way though.

http://www.the-eleven.com/~tjlegg/photos/uk-sept2003/Images/20030913leeds02.jpg

This building could actually be quite nice if it was cleaned up. They'd make some amazing apartments with those massive windows.

That's it!!!!!!!!!

The Chinese supermarket on Upper Brook Street in Manchester is more of a China town than that - and that is a couple of miles from the real Manc china town.

No1 - do you ever wonder why people think you talk shit?

Where is that? I'm not familiar with the name "Harewood quarter". Is that down by the markets and all that?

It doesnt thats the point d'uh. Theres a fw chinese shops in that area, and lots dotted around the city which if money was put into the area it could beco e established. London's China Town is the best one, then Manchesters, and apparently Newcastle has 1 now, but they're hardly extensive, which is sometihng Leeds could have, Maybe Quarry Hill as the new 'cultural quarter' could have an established one.


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/imagesp.php?plib=ps&se=nse&ref=770&idi=Approaching+Leeds who took this panorama, and could parts of it be used for a banner on the site?

I was looking through a recent Building Design supplement (BD+ Career's Guide) and noticed an article about the architecture scene in UK cities outside of London. The Leeds section featured a familiar image of the Trinity Quarter and something I hadn't seen before - a proposal by Bauman Lyons Architects called the Skyway Walkway for what looked like the Holbeck area. I don't know if this is a serious proposal or just a bit of fun, but the image seems to show a collage of an elevated 'green' walkway, possibly along a disused viaduct. It appears to consist of a timber walkway planted with trees and some long grass or reeds. The Leeds skyline is visible in the background.

It's a bit of a mystery, this one. No description accompanies the image and I've not found anything on their website. I would post a picture, but again do not have any web space to host it on. Shame really because it looks quite interesting...

[IMG]http://www.holbeckurbanvillage.co.uk/documents/fin/281020033156.jpg[IMG]

You can see a bigger picture on the 'Holbeck Urban Village' site

Crikey, thats, interesting.

Some fella from the council on 5live right now talking about regulating new developments in Leeds. I think it's just about student flats though, not all developments. Apparently they're going to ban student flats with over 5 rooms per flat.

It seems to be just in the Headingley area actually. Pretty good debate actually. Lots of people ringing in an viewing the exact same issues I have with Leeds (see, it isn't just me picking on Leeds) but also discussing best ways to go about correcting it. I suggest you all tune in.

If it was on 5live last night it will be on http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/listen/audioarchive.shtml until last night.

I presume it was the Richard Bacon choice.

You will have to zoom forward through to around 11:30 (going by when dgnr wrote last night).

Starts at about 1hour 32minutes on the timer(presuming you are looking at what I see).

from what I have heard so far the council officer is coming over like a right simpleton.

anyone know why the tetley brewery is busy ripping down warehouses on their site?
is it to build new ones due to the ones they're ripping down needing replacing or are they prepping a sale of land?

from what I have heard so far the council officer is coming over like a right simpleton.

Hmm, I wonder why that could be.

I agree, he was a bit of a mong. I expect Michael Howard to now take up this issue though and place adverts in papers advising people on best possible ways to slaughter a student.

I agree, he was a bit of a mong. I expect Michael Howard to now take up this issue though and place adverts in papers advising people on best possible ways to slaughter a student.
We've had speed cameras, asylum seekers, road humps, mrsa, clean hospitals and gypsies. Please don't give him any more ideas for the next passing bandwagon.

http://www.holbeckurbanvillage.co.uk/documents/fin/281020033156.jpg

I was looking through a recent Building Design supplement (BD+ Career's Guide) and noticed an article about the architecture scene in UK cities outside of London. The Leeds section featured a familiar image of the Trinity Quarter and something I hadn't seen before - a proposal by Bauman Lyons Architects called the Skyway Walkway for what looked like the Holbeck area. I don't know if this is a serious proposal or just a bit of fun, but the image seems to show a collage of an elevated 'green' walkway, possibly along a disused viaduct. It appears to consist of a timber walkway planted with trees and some long grass or reeds. The Leeds skyline is visible in the background.

It's a bit of a mystery, this one. No description accompanies the image and I've not found anything on their website. I would post a picture, but again do not have any web space to host it on. Shame really because it looks quite interesting...

Ah, that image will be the one - I think its supposed to be the old railway viaduct from Holbeck across the canal and into the city via the station. Or something like that, not entirely sure. Anyway that image is quite old and shows cranes where Blue and Whitehall Road apartments are. Hope it will continue to be in the masterplan going forward.

How old is that? Correct me if I'm wrong, but West Point appears to still be a fully functioning Royal Mail building.

must be quiet old because of the things you have both said and whatever than structure is on the left is now finished because theres nothing like that there now. At least the picture shows there are plans to link it better with the centre. I think however there should be a cycleway on this, because IMO all new projects should have cycleways in them, so eventually they will all link up. Leeds is apparently one of the worst places to cycle in Britain, possibly because of the awful state of the roads and how complicated some of the junctions/interchanges are.
I dont mean things like BWP obviously, but Holbeck Urban Village, Clarence Dock and all these new office parks should have cycleways- it might not be supertram but its a good start in getting people out of cars if everyones on bikes. Bikes were the most efficent transport ever invented and you can get almost anywhere locally on a bike.
I'm not sure what I would do instead, but I would get rid of that grass, or more likely cut it down to a reasonable length. Maybe flowers instead or something. What have they done with bridges in the past? hmm...

crikey No.1 I'm agreeing with you twice in a day. I cycle to work in London thorugh Hyde Park and Green Park and despite the buses and taxis the cycle network is very well developed. Leeds, don't think I've seen many cycle lanes apart from on Wellington Street and City Square. You can cycle along the canal paths mind. I agree as much as possible should be done to encourage cycling in the city.

It seems to be quite a big thing in York, and in North Yorkshire generally, but particularly York. I think Leeds just doesn't bother as much because it has the space for big wide roads to carry lots of cars, where as York has few dual carriageways let alone motorways. I guess York has been almost forced to do this.
I think probably as supertram is built (if it ever is) and as some of the junctions and road layouts are altered it will provide room for cycleways. City Square is the only place I've noticed any decant cycleways. The whole of the city centre could easily have cycleways, particularly Boar Lane/Vicar Lane and the West of the city centre because there is the room for them.

must be quiet old because of the things you have both said and whatever than structure is on the left is now finished because theres nothing like that there now. At least the picture shows there are plans to link it better with the centre. I think however there should be a cycleway on this, because IMO all new projects should have cycleways in them, so eventually they will all link up. Leeds is apparently one of the worst places to cycle in Britain, possibly because of the awful state of the roads and how complicated some of the junctions/interchanges are.
I dont mean things like BWP obviously, but Holbeck Urban Village, Clarence Dock and all these new office parks should have cycleways- it might not be supertram but its a good start in getting people out of cars if everyones on bikes. Bikes were the most efficent transport ever invented and you can get almost anywhere locally on a bike.
I'm not sure what I would do instead, but I would get rid of that grass, or more likely cut it down to a reasonable length. Maybe flowers instead or something. What have they done with bridges in the past? hmm...


if they used flowers on this it would have to be very carefully and skillfully done to stop it looking like a giant hanging basket from a Britain in bloom contest. It needs to be something quite tall I think to have an impact, plus flowers probably wouldnt last mroe than a couple of days, as theyd just get trampled on, I like the idea of the reeds, its quite interesting, although any tall thick foliage would be good.

£100m homes scheme beginsSymbolic moment for city regeneration plan
Robert Sutcliffe
A £100m scheme to transform the lives of hundreds of people in a run-down area of Leeds has finally begun.
Local councillors said it was a symbolic moment after official contracts were exchanged with the Private Finance Initiative contractors, Yorkshire Transformations Ltd, and Leeds City Council.
The project will provide a massive regeneration of the Swarcliffe area and help narrow the gap between the more affluent and poorer parts of the city.
More than 300 empty council homes have been demolished.
Four hundred and sixty new homes will now be built on the cleared sites many of which will be put up for sale. Of these, 110 properties will be made available for council tenants.
The council and Yorkshire Transformations Ltd have also entered into a 30-year contract to improve, maintain and repair homes in the area. More than 1600 homes on the 1960s estate will also be refurbished to bring them up to Government standards.
Repair work to existing properties will include the replacement of windows, doors, kitchens, bathrooms, central heating systems and rewiring where necessary under the continued maintenance of Leeds City Council.
Public open spaces, car parking and the road network will also be improved as part of the scheme.
Coun Les Carter, executive board member with responsibility for neighbourhoods and housing, said:
"We're delighted to announce the redevelopment of the Swarcliffe estate. It's extremely good news for people living in Swarcliffe where the whole community has been engaged in this project.
"This scheme will do so much more than breathe new life into the estate – it will totally transform the area.
"We all know it's not just a matter of putting up some bricks and mortar. It's about reshaping a whole community and people's lives on the estate, making Swarcliffe a better place to live. This is a prime example of Leeds City Council's commitment to make sure that everyone living in our city has the right to a decent home by the year 2010."
The project has been backed by local tenants, residents living on the estate, and local Labour councillors Peter Gruen, Suzi Armitage and Pauleen Grahame.
A major public consultation with tenants initially helped to develop the Swarcliffe Community Plan which has formed a blueprint for the changes.
People living on the estate have seen changes gradually taking place since 2002, with the demolition of six high-rise blocks and several unpopular maisonettes.
Coun Gruen, whose ward is Crossgates & Whinmoor, said: "What a symbolic moment this is for everyone living in the Swarcliffe area. This long-standing and important project will transform Swarcliffe and the surrounding area, making it a place that we can all be really proud of."
Coun Armitage, who also represents Crossgates & Whinmoor, added: "At times this has been a very difficult project and local people have been very patient. However, hopefully everyone can now reap the rewards."

Whers Swarcliffe estate? Is this like an urban village type thing like Holbeck?

£100m homes scheme beginsSymbolic moment for city regeneration plan
Robert Sutcliffe
A £100m scheme to transform the lives of hundreds of people in a run-down area of Leeds has finally begun.
Local councillors said it was a symbolic moment after official contracts were exchanged with the Private Finance Initiative contractors, Yorkshire Transformations Ltd, and Leeds City Council.
The project will provide a massive regeneration of the Swarcliffe area and help narrow the gap between the more affluent and poorer parts of the city.
More than 300 empty council homes have been demolished.
Four hundred and sixty new homes will now be built on the cleared sites many of which will be put up for sale. Of these, 110 properties will be made available for council tenants.
The council and Yorkshire Transformations Ltd have also entered into a 30-year contract to improve, maintain and repair homes in the area. More than 1600 homes on the 1960s estate will also be refurbished to bring them up to Government standards.
Repair work to existing properties will include the replacement of windows, doors, kitchens, bathrooms, central heating systems and rewiring where necessary under the continued maintenance of Leeds City Council.
Public open spaces, car parking and the road network will also be improved as part of the scheme.
Coun Les Carter, executive board member with responsibility for neighbourhoods and housing, said:
"We're delighted to announce the redevelopment of the Swarcliffe estate. It's extremely good news for people living in Swarcliffe where the whole community has been engaged in this project.
"This scheme will do so much more than breathe new life into the estate – it will totally transform the area.
"We all know it's not just a matter of putting up some bricks and mortar. It's about reshaping a whole community and people's lives on the estate, making Swarcliffe a better place to live. This is a prime example of Leeds City Council's commitment to make sure that everyone living in our city has the right to a decent home by the year 2010."
The project has been backed by local tenants, residents living on the estate, and local Labour councillors Peter Gruen, Suzi Armitage and Pauleen Grahame.
A major public consultation with tenants initially helped to develop the Swarcliffe Community Plan which has formed a blueprint for the changes.
People living on the estate have seen changes gradually taking place since 2002, with the demolition of six high-rise blocks and several unpopular maisonettes.
Coun Gruen, whose ward is Crossgates & Whinmoor, said: "What a symbolic moment this is for everyone living in the Swarcliffe area. This long-standing and important project will transform Swarcliffe and the surrounding area, making it a place that we can all be really proud of."
Coun Armitage, who also represents Crossgates & Whinmoor, added: "At times this has been a very difficult project and local people have been very patient. However, hopefully everyone can now reap the rewards."

Whers Swarcliffe estate? Is this like an urban village type thing like Holbeck?
Lets hope it doesn't look the same as before within 5 years of completion.

The former Royal&SunAlliance building on Infirmary Street is in the process of refurbishment. It may be getting a re-clad depending on the interpretation of improving 'exterior appearance'

http://www.bondcourt.co.uk/home.htm

Is it the civic theatre or something they're building in Millennium Square? Well whatever its called, somethings happening with it- I cant quite see what it is from the webcam- has some of the scaffolding come down or something? Its like a cream colour with black squares/rectangles in it. have a look: http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/webcams/millenium_square_webcam.shtml

Allders update from the YEP:

Allders store survives the axe (for now)
by Grant Woodward
DEPARTMENT store chain Allders will keep its famous Leeds site open into April – but cannot say for exactly how long.
Administrators for the firm – which collapsed in January – have negotiated with the building's owners to delay the closure, which was expected to take place at the end of this month.
Instead, the doors will remain open to bargain hunters who have been flocking to the Headrow store to take advantage of cut-price deals.
A spokesman for administrators Kroll said: "Talks to extend trading went successfully with the owner of the site. We are using the time to sell excess stock from other stores as well as continuing talks with interested parties."
Allders had 11 years left to run of its lease of the building – which first opened in 1932 – when it went bust.
The Headrow site is owned by commercial property investment and development company Capital & Counties, a subsidiary of one of the largest UK quoted property companies, Liberty International.
The store's original owners, John Lewis, are rumoured to be keen on taking over the prime spot, along with Selfridges.
However, the spokesman refused to confirm or deny any of those involved in the takeover talks.
The Headrow branch is one of only three, along with Croydon and Camberley, that will trade beyond the end of March.
A total of 13 Allders stores around the country closed at the weekend. Administrators said they had little option after receiving limited interest from buyers to carry them on.
However, a spokesman said: "We are very grateful for the support and efforts of the employees and concession holders during the administration and also to Allders' customers, whose continued support for the brand provided us with time to review all options and safeguard as many stores and jobs around the UK as possible."
Around 130 jobs were saved at the chain's store at Kirkstall last month when it was one of ten bought up by BHS tycoon Philip Green last month.
Sixteen members of staff were made redundant from the Kirkstall site on February 11. Fifteen left the Headrow store on the same date, leaving a workforce of 183.
A further eight Allders stores have been sold to the Debenhams group, with Primark signing an agreement to acquire six. It is hoped the sales will save around 2,000 jobs.
grant.woodward@ypn.co.uk
23 March 2005


Mentions John Lewis and Selfridges, but I am not sure that they would take the refurb on. Probably depends on their view of how likely it is that the Harewood quarter will actually be built, or how quickly....

It's just a plain white wall with slit windows. Pleasent enough I suppose.

Is it the civic theatre or something they're building in Millennium Square? Well whatever its called, somethings happening with it- I cant quite see what it is from the webcam- has some of the scaffolding come down or something? Its like a cream colour with black squares/rectangles in it. have a look: http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/webcams/millenium_square_webcam.shtml


The new face of Millennium Sq:


http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/Millenniumsq/CIMG0538.JPG

It's just a plain white wall with slit windows. Pleasent enough I suppose.

It will look better when it gets it's big video screen on the side. At least it frees up the Leeds institute to be converted into the museum.

http://cam.a-q.co.uk/~leeds/image.jpg

2 City Walk today:


http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/2citywalk/CIMG0530.JPG


http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/2citywalk/CIMG0532.JPG


I caught Bridgewater Place in the reflection- artistic hey!

http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/2citywalk/CIMG0534.JPG

anyone know why the tetley brewery is busy ripping down warehouses on their site?
is it to build new ones due to the ones they're ripping down needing replacing or are they prepping a sale of land?


Not easy to see but the shed is being dismantled:


http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/2citywalk/CIMG0535.JPG


Anybody know what's going on here?

The city walk photo's are good, particularly the first one which looks like a big city feel- if I weren't told that was Leeds, I'd probably guess that was one of the low-rise parts of Canary Wharf or something.

Oh ok, the video screen will be good, but I thought this building was going to be a terracotta coloured building? Whatever it is, it will be a nice addition to Millennium Square which is quite a nice place when theres events on.

The new face of Millennium Sq:


http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/Millenniumsq/CIMG0538.JPG

It's the new Civic Theatre, which will replace the current Mechanics Institute (soon to be the new City Museum)

I walked past it today and was quite impressed with it.
It's been designed so as not to offend any of its neighbours, and reflects the portland stone of the Town Hall.

I've heard a videoscreen will be installed shortly, hopefully in time for England]'s capitulation to Azerbaijan.

Are they planning to liven up Millennium Square? I think it could really use a water feature or something, it looks barren.

I'm gonna try and spend a day in Leeds sometime soon, haven't been for a couple of years. Will take lots of photos.

Are they planning to liven up Millennium Square? I think it could really use a water feature or something, it looks barren.

I agree. Look how deserted it is in those pics. Public places such as that are meant to be used by the public.. At the moment all it is, is a big peice of tarmac. A water feature wood be good, then again they already have one there at the south edge of the square. One int he middle would be good, maybe some benches and trees, or give people the rights to have stalls/stands there like on the river walks in London or Paris... something to liven the damn place up!

Are they planning to liven up Millennium Square? I think it could really use a water feature or something, it looks barren.

I'm gonna try and spend a day in Leeds sometime soon, haven't been for a couple of years. Will take lots of photos.

There is a water feature on the southern edge of the square. The reason it has nothing permanent in the middle is because it used for concerts and stuff.
It does look a bit barren at the moment. Where have all the trees in a tub gone?

There is a water feature on the southern edge of the square. The reason it has nothing permanent in the middle is because it used for concerts and stuff.
It does look a bit barren at the moment. Where have all the trees in a tub gone?


You can just see a tree tub on the left of the photo and there are more on the right just cut out the photo.

well.. the buildings getting stripped are the kegging and bottling section of the brewery - in buildings further down they're still operating.. I think it's just renovation work on the buildings.. my dad doesn't know, mainly cause he doesn't really get to speak to ppl at tetley anymore after having a huge rant at one of the directors cause they ripped down the duke welly and they tried to pass off someone elses beer as the "new" tetley imperial...

Welcome Back everyone! Hope everybody enjoyed their Easter Break!

I picked this out for the YEP website:

The rise and rise of inner-city living...
BY PAUL JEEVES

THE boom in city centre living is set to gather pace with a number of huge new developments being mooted for all corners of Leeds.
Among the visionary new plans will be the continued development of Holbeck Urban Village, Clarence Dock and the re-birth of land to the South East of the city centre as a desirable location to live.
Plans have been approved for a development on Chadwick Street and Armouries Way to create 227 flats and a number of leisure facilities.

The flats at this development will consist of 160 one bedroom flats and 67 two bedroom flats rising up to 21 storeys high.

Coun Liz Minkin (Lab, Armley) told a meeting of the city centre plans panel: "This is a very exciting building and it will become a very special one in Leeds. I congratulate the architect."

Located on the south east fringe of the city centre on the junction of Marsh Lane and Richmond Street, the proposals are for a horse shoe configuration around the corner site to protect an internal courtyard area from the busy nearby roads.

A decision on whether to grant planning permission for the scheme has been deferred and delegated to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, because the plans are not in line with the city's unitary development plans.

There are also proposals in place for 206 new flats on the site of the former Bellows Engineering Works at Cross Green.
The site is currently occupied by a range of disused warehouses, works and the former Black Dog pub.

However a key to the plans for the three blocks of flats off East Street must include the Grade I listed St Saviour's Church. The blocks of flats will range from three to nine-storeys.
In Holbeck plans are currently being developed for further neighbouring developments.

On Water Lane, Igloo Regeneration are looking at creating a mixed development, boasting residential flats, office space a hotel and leisure facilities around Marshall's Mill.
Outline planning permission is currently being sought for five new buildings which would comprise 262 flats, a hotel, a gym and more than 12,000 square metres of office space.

At ground level the developers want to create space for cafes, bars, restaurants and shops and a basement car park for 220 vehicles
Student flats are also being proposed for Jacob Street in Little London.
If approved these will comprise a state-of-the-art 23-storey residential block made up of 104 cluster flats providing bedrooms for 584 students.
This building will have stepped roof levels and a central fin to create a dramatic vision on the Leeds skyline.
Permission for a major development of 194 flats is also being sought for Flax Place in Burmantofts.


Some interesting developments. Nothing particularly new to this board other than the development mentioned for Flax Place and Richmond Street.

Looks like Clarence House will be 21 storeys.

Am sure this will raise some debate - but a full page spread on Leeds in the FT's Business Life section. Quite patriotic, but still good publicity and contains a few interestings facts and figures for us to chew over. Read below, or alternatively follow the hyperlink.

Reinvented city wants to be loved
By William Hall
Published: March 29 2005 18:35 | Last updated: March 29 2005 18:35

Leeds, the UK's second biggest metropolitan borough council after Birmingham, is desperate to be loved. Tap "UK's favourite city" into the Google search engine, and up pop loads of facts and figures about an industrial city, four hours north of London at the end of the M1 motorway. It has even set up a website www.uksfavouritecity.com.


The title was hijacked from a long forgotten ranking in a Condé Nast Traveller magazine. It is just one of several spurious accolades, such as "Best City for Business" (Omis Research), "Best Place in Britain to Live" (Henley Management College), and "Best University Destination" (The Independent), which Leeds is using to promote its image as a bustling European city.

Thirty years ago, this sort of self-promotion would have been unthinkable. At that time there would have been little to distinguish Leeds from Bradford, Sheffield or Newcastle upon Tyne. It was just another declining northern industrial city struggling to reinvent itself.

Since then a number of things have happened. The city's population increased 50 per cent after the 1974 local government reorganisation, and the city continued to grow when many rivals were declining. Over the past 20 years Leeds claims to have created more jobs than any other city outside London, with the number growing by 91,000, or 30 per cent, compared with an 8 per cent rise in Britain's core cities over the same period.

The city council, with 35,000 employees, remains the biggest employer followed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (15,000), and the two universities that employ close to 10,000 in total. But there is a wide variety of service companies and manufacturing industries that have been driving the jobs growth and the city's renaissance.

Leeds city centre has been transformed over the past decade. Some £2.5bn of property developments have been completed and another £1.6bn is under construction, with £3.5bn in the pipeline. Bridgewater Place, the city's first skyscraper, is under construction and more are planned. The number of hotels has more than doubled to 21 and another six are due, which will boost capacity by 40 per cent.

Leeds is much more vibrant than it used to be. The 1996 decision by Harvey Nichols to open its first store outside its London base in Knightsbridge in Leeds was a tremendous boost for the city's confidence. But since then "Harvey Nicks" has opened in Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, while Leeds has still not got a John Lewis or Selfridges - two of the most coveted retailing badges of honour.

Leeds, like most regional cities, cherry picks the statistics to suit its case. In terms of population it is England's second biggest regional city after Birmingham, and two thirds bigger than Manchester. It is also considerably bigger than other regional capitals such as Edinburgh and Cardiff. But Leeds is part of a wider city region, which includes Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield. There is dispute about what constitutes a city region. But based on National Statistics data, Leeds is at the core of a 1.5m West Yorkshire urban area, compared with Birmingham and the West Midlands (2.3m) and Greater Manchester (2.2m).

Although Leeds has prospered over the past couple of decades, thanks to its unusually diverse economy and strong legal and financial services sector, it is the capital of a relatively slow growing region that is nearly a third smaller than the North West. It faces a strong competitive challenge from Manchester, which has the benefit of the biggest airport outside London, and Birmingham, which has a bigger legal and financial services sector.

The decline of Bradford, less than 10 miles from Leeds, is a potent reminder of how quickly a regional city can slip. Thirty years ago Bradford was arguably more important than Leeds and is still the headquarters of more sizeable PLCs, such as Morrisons, Provident Financial and Kelda, than Leeds. But professional advisers, such as Walker Morris and Hammonds, have shifted their operations to Leeds, where financial and legal firms have fuelled the city's growth.

The big worry for Leeds is that the same thing could happen to it if Manchester successfully challenges its bid to become the largest financial services centre outside London by 2020. The financial and legal services industries are consolidating and for the bigger professional firms it no longer makes sense to maintain two regional headquarters less than an hour's drive from each other.

Manchester and Birmingham both employ about 47,000 in financial services, compared with 42,000 in Leeds. Edinburgh, whose renaissance has been driven by financial services, employs 56,000. According to a December 2004 report, commissioned by Yorkshire Forward and Leeds Financial Services Initiative, employment in Leeds will have to grow appreciably faster than in Birmingham and Manchester over the next two decades and significantly faster than in Edinburgh if Leeds is to achieve its ambitious goal.

"We have hidden our light under a bushel for too long," says Andrew Carter, the new joint leader of Leeds city council. The city's public and private sectors have addressed this by publishing a 15-year vision for Leeds that involves "going up a league" in European cities.

Leeds has a long way to go since it currently ranks 60th on Jones Lang Lasalle's European regional growth index, compared with Manchester in 30th position. Its weak profile in Europe has not been helped by the relegation of Leeds United, the city's premiership football team. The Leeds Rhinos might be world rugby league champions but they are no substitute. After all, the only reason most people on the Continent have heard of Manchester is because of Manchester United.

Read previous articles on Birmingham and Edinburgh here

Whetting the appetite for doing deals

Leeds, unlike neighbouring Sheffield, has always been rather low key. It does not have the equivalent of a Master Cutler, whose annual feast in Sheffield’s magnificent Cutler’s Hall assembles the business elite.

The high point in the Leeds business calendar is the annual dinner of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, which dates back to 1785. In spite of a grand history, the chamber is much smaller than the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce on the other side of the Pennines, which has more than three time as many members and speaks increasingly for the Manchester city region.

By contrast, the Leeds chamber has abandoned attempts to combine with similar bodies in Bradford and York. For the past four years it has concentrated on rebuilding its ties with the Leeds business community and re-engaging with the city. Tom Morton, a partner with accountancy firm PKF, is the current chairman.

Leeds differs from many traditional UK cities in having always had a close working relationship between the city council and the private sector. The Leeds Initiative, a public/ private partnership established in 1990, was one of the models for the current government’s local strategic partnerships. It has spawned offshoots, such as the Leeds Financial Services Initiative, which promotes the city’s finance sector.

These have been bolstered by a growing number of other local networks, such as Forward Ladies, aimed at Yorkshire businesswomen, and the Asian Business Development Network, a conduit for the region’s growing ethnic community. However, much networking is still done in the privacy of large shooting estates in the North Yorkshire moors or in the pavilion at Headingley, home of Yorkshire cricket.

The Queens Hotel, next to the railway station, used to be the prime watering hole. Like Manchester’s Midland Hotel, it retains a comfortable feel for an older generation of business leaders. But Leeds cannot match Manchester, which now has two five-star hotels in its city centre. Leeds’ only five-star hotel is the De Vere Oulton Hall on the city outskirts.

Nevertheless, there are a growing number of four-star hotels in the city centre, ranging from the 147-bed Radisson, close to the Town Hall, to boutique hotels.

When it comes to business entertaining, Leeds has more to offer than Manchester. Pool Court at 42 is Leeds’ only Michelin-starred restaurant. But 30 minutes out of town is The Boxtree at Ilkley, where Marco Pier White started. It has just regained a Michelin star - it used to have two.

In the heart of Leeds’ financial district, 3 York Place, Sous Le Nez and La Grillade are haunts favoured by financial movers and shakers. Anthony’s, run by 24-year-old chef Anthony Flynn, is one of the city’s most talked about new restaurants, and Room, John Pallagi’s flagship restaurant, is a reminder that Manchester does not have a northern monopoly on stylish dining.

The straight path to making money out of household waste

Jonathan Straight, 40, the pony-tailed founder of Straight, is living proof of the old Yorkshire adage: “Where there’s muck there’s brass.” Since his Leeds-based waste recycling company floated on the Alternative Investment Market in November 2003, its share price has risen by more than 150 per cent and the company has more than doubled in size by gobbling up Blackwall, its biggest competitor.

Mr Straight, who owns 41.7 per cent of the company, was one of the first to spot the potential to make money from the government’s commitment to attack the UK’s low level of household waste recycling. The UK produces 100m tonnes of household waste a year, and this is increasing at 3-4 per cent a year.

Straight was established in 1993 to supply kerbside containers that separate household waste for recycling. Six million containers later it has branched out into composters for household waste, wheeled refuse bins and garden rainwater butts. Its main customers are local authorities. Since the £6.75m Blackwall acquisition Straight has been the undisputed market leader in kerbside boxes, home composters and water butts.

Revenues have jumped from £2.5m in 2000 to about £13m in 2004. Durlacher, the house broker, forecasts revenues of £26m in the current year and pre-tax profits of £2.2m, against £450,000 in 2003.

The shares, floated at 80p, have risen by more than 50 per cent even though 4.4m shares were issued at 130p in December to finance the Blackwall purchase. With a market capitalisation of £22.6m Straight has started to register on investor radar screens.

England recycled or composted just 14.5 per cent of its household waste in 2002-03, one of the lowest rates in Europe. The government aims to increase this to 25 per cent by 2005-06 and 30 per cent by 2010.

Straight has been helped by the presence of James Newman, as non-executive chairman. Mr Newman is a former finance director of Kelda, owner of Yorkshire Water, and was chairman of Waste Recycling Group, a quoted Kelda associate, which was sold to private equity buyers for £531m in July 2003.

A hidden scientific power

Leeds was understandably miffed when Gordon Brown named Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and York as the first of a clutch of UK science cities. Its irritation increased when the chancellor added Bristol, Nottingham and Birmingham in this month’s Budget.

The city is home to two of the UK’s biggest universities, Leeds University and Leeds Metropolitan, and one of its biggest teaching hospitals. Leeds University ranks among the top 10 by research funding. Through its partnership in the White Rose research consortium with York and Sheffield universities, its combined research spend rivals that of Oxford and Cambridge.

A survey by the Higher Education Funding Council for England found Yorkshire ranked in the top three regions for university spin-out companies and in the top two for graduate start-ups.

The two best-known spin-outs from Leeds University are Filtronic, a world leader in mobile phone base stations, and GMAP, a geographical information system. Filtronic, with market capitalisation of £180m, is still run by Professor David Rhodes, an electronics engineer. GMAP, founded by Sir Alan Wilson, Leeds University’s former vice chancellor, was sold to a US trade buyer in 1997.

The university has been less successful at commercialising technology recently. In 1999 it teamed up with Ray Chamberlain, an internet entrepreneur, to establish a £20m fund to help Leeds academics develop and commercialise their ideas. Three years later this task was handed to Techtran, a company set up by Axiolab, a quoted technology investment company. Axiolab ran into financial problems and, earlier this year, Techtran was sold to IP2IPO, another quoted company specialising in the commercialisation of university research, in a deal worth £20m.

FT Article (http://news.ft.com/cms/s/b7eb025e-a076-11d9-a3ba-00000e2511c8.html)

Awwww... how sweet :D

More news on the fate of Allders:

End of an era as Allders deal is finally sealed
By Grant Woodward
LEEDS will soon be without a department store on one of its most famous streets for the first time in over 70 years. The impending closure of Allders on the Headrow will see the break-up of the renowned building first opened by Lewis's in 1932. A deal has been agreed between shopping centre giants Liberty International and the administrators for the Allders chain, which went under in January. Liberty – which owns the MetroCentre at Gateshead – plans to split the store into separate shops and add some luxury flats above it.

The deal scotches rumours that the John Lewis group or Selfridges would make a last-minute bid for the site and keep it going as a department store. Liberty already owned the freehold for the building and has now bought out the 11 years left on Allders' lease in order to redevelop the site. One of the firm's directors, John Saggers, said: "No one showed any interest in taking over a single store but there has been interest for slightly smaller units. It is too early to bandy names around but there are gaps in the Leeds city centre market – a food store being one of them.

"In terms of the flats, only half of the upper store was built out, but there is the structure to support development so they could come in stage two." The original Lewis's Department Store was designed in 1931 by Sir Reginald Blomfield & Sons and was reputedly the largest store outside London. It was described as a "general drapers, tailors, boot makers, hatters, hosiers, outfitters, silk mercers and bankers". The upper floors were not built at first and local architects Atkinson & Shaw finally completed them after the Second World War. Colin Wherrett, 55, whose first job was as a display artist for Lewis's from 1969 and up until recently carried out work at Allders with his own shopfitting firm, said it would be sad to no longer have a department store on the site. He said: "It's a magnificent building – I call it "the old lady"."

Mr Wherrett, who owns Eggborough-based CW Projects, added: "I had some really happy times there and met some lovely people. " Allders' Leeds store is one of only two in the country to still be operating as it sells off stock from other outlets. It was earmarked for closure this week but Liberty say it may allow it to keep operating whilst plans for the future of the site are hammered out.


The article makes a couple of interesting points: one is the hint that one of the new retail units to be created might be occupied by a food store (Tesco Metro, anyone, or even Waitrose???); the other is the fact that the building, incomplete for almost 60 years, might finally be completed to house some of the new flats to be created.

I must say I can't feel sentimental that the building will cease to be a department store. Despite the money Allders spent when they took it over from Lewis's, it always felt as though it was living on past splendours, and it was difficult to see how to overcome that apart from gutting it completely as happened with Debenhams. I also suspect Allders' departure will make the city more attractive to the likes of John Lewis or Selfridge's (though I know their expansion plans are currently on hold).

Conversion to smaller units will make the structure seem less like a huge wall and more of a functioning part of the Headrow IMO.

the Leeds and Holbeck building at the junction with Albion Street is alsodue to be sold for a possible retail development, and Koetter Kim aim to plant trees all the way down the centre of the Headrow as part of their masterplan.

Quite excited that they're going to be building on top of it to create some flats, and also good news about a potential food store, it's what the city centre is crying out for. I'm also happy it's going to be broken up into smaller units, I never like shopping in huge department stores.

I love the building as it is and it couldn't be in a better possition for a major department store. I think the main downside has been its entrances to the store, they are poorly located and are not very prominent. It is a real shame that the building is going to be split up into different units. The idea of loft apartments in the very centre of town is silly. "If you don't like the smell of pig sh*t don't live next to a pig farm", comes into mind when the new loft owners start complaining about late night revellers.

Still on the bright side, perhaps the likes of Selfridge's and Debenhams have already earmarked other sites around the city for possible expansion. There is nothing externally to keep people in the area. The way the building is designed tends to flow people away towards the Victoria Quarter and Briggate area. Allders demise will give us a real opportunity to have some more street cafes in the area to slow the flow of people away. Could this be tied in with the redevelopment of Portland Square?

I imagine the sort of people buying apartments in that part of town will be one of the late night revellers, so they won't be too fussed.

Come on Selfridges, get your act together!!!!

It may have been mentioned already, but on the subject of food stores in the City Centre the old Safeway unit just off Park Row is apparently going to be reopen as an Asda on two levels.

Leeds now desperately needs a major new department store to keep up with likes of Manchester, Birmingham or Newcastle.

It is unbelievable that one of the finest department store buildings outside London should not be snapped up John Lewis or Selfridges, and they are going to take space in the new Eastgate scheme as widely predicted.

Wouldnt really hold too much hope for Selfridges guys, they bought a massive sight in Glasgow 2 years ago, appointed a star name architect, but since they were bought over have held back on their expansion programme. Glasgow i as far as i am aware is the only place of around 5 cities they had earmarked that has not been totally dropped and still has a chance of a new store - tho i think you'll find from the Glasgow forum, although Selfridges still own the site, hopes that they will now carry on aren't too high at the moment. Im very surprised to hear Leeds has no John Lewis either, surely someone is missing out on a glaring opportunity!

It may have been mentioned already, but on the subject of food stores in the City Centre the old Safeway unit just off Park Row is apparently going to be reopen as an Asda on two levels.

Now that's a bit of good news. Mind you, it must mark a change of heart by the owners of the site because they wouldn't allow Safeway/Morrisons to sell the store to another food retailer. Madness, if you ask me.

Wouldnt really hold too much hope for Selfridges guys, they bought a massive sight in Glasgow 2 years ago, appointed a star name architect, but since they were bought over have held back on their expansion programme. Glasgow i as far as i am aware is the only place of around 5 cities they had earmarked that has not been totally dropped and still has a chance of a new store - tho i think you'll find from the Glasgow forum, although Selfridges still own the site, hopes that they will now carry on aren't too high at the moment. Im very surprised to hear Leeds has no John Lewis either, surely someone is missing out on a glaring opportunity!

Its more rumour that anything else, but my best friend did a MSc in Spatial Mapping and Data at Leeds Uni and one of his peers now works for John Lewis in their development team. They have been assessing opportunities for expansion for some time and their appetite is very much on the opening of new stores where they have little representation / competition. Meetings were planned pre Xmas on this matter and she naturally stated that she couldn't say anything, but I know one of the potential sites is in Leeds. Again, this is probably the Harewood/Eastgate quarter. Disappointing, but would have expected some annoucement by now, but like Clarence Dock they are waiting until contracts are inked before going public. We might get a nice surprise one of these days. Have faith - we'll get something sometime in the next few years.

I like the idea of separate units in Alders building and finishing the top levels with apartments - sounds like excellent plan to me, the old building had a whiff of stagnation about it IMO.

I dont like the idea of seperating Allders. I think any building along The Headrow could easily do this. For what is mean to be the main street with Briggate, it doesn't have the stores on it to attract people. A major department store would be better. I would keep this store as it is, even if it is empty, and advertize it to John Lewis, Selfridges or some other big name. Its a prime site, and they're not particularly common like this, so they shouldn't change it.

If they want smaller shops why not use some other place? And apartments- not here I dont think- too central and theres enough of them going up. You can build apartments anywhere like around the fringe, but who is gonna go all the way to BWP, Clarence Dock...etc for 1 department store- you see the point?

How can apartments be too central? Personally, I would love and apartment there, centre of town and potentially above a food store. Anyway, it's just wasted space above the building anyway, and I can't think of anything better to put on top of the building, you can't realy put more shops on the top, Offices would probably be better in the long run, but apartments seem to sell better at the moment, so it makes sense from the developers point of view. Also, any extra height and density in the town centre is always good. The fact is, if they leave it empty and wait for a department store they could be sitting there for ages with the building empty, and I personally think 8 or 10 different shops (providing they're all good shops) is better than one big department store.

If either John Lewis or Selfridges had taken the Allders site, there would be no anchor tenant for the proposed shopping quarters on Vicar Lane.

Because they are slightly removed from the city core, shoppers need to have an incentive to walk all the way down there.

Having major department stores near the Playhouse will make the city centre seem much bigger, so I think the Allders situation has turned out for the best.

http://www.fjarchitects.co.uk/images/1734_big.jpg

But they won't be good shops because most small shops are already in Leeds with multiple shops. Leeds needs to attract bigger shops like Selfridges which draw people in big numbers because Selfridges is a big name to have and it gets people to come to a city. You can build apartments anywhere, why put them on that site where theres a site with massive potential, to become John Lewis- its the perfect site for one- or Selfridges. Small shops could move into the Headrow Centre or Leeds Shopping Plaza which seem a bit empty at the moment, or the empty units on Albion Street and between the station and Albion Street, around Boar Lane.

People don't travel and get particularly excited about WHSmith, Woolworths, Next and all the rest because theres on in every town and they're not thrilling stores anyway, but Selfridges is something different, and its not just a shop, but an experience. Its proven by the Bullring and the Oxford Street stores.

well the thing is, is that its proposed and it seems a long term thing at the moment which doesn't seem to be getting anywhere.

It would make the city centre feel bigger- well it would be bigger anyway, but many people already say Leeds city centre is massive, probably as its compared to more average sized local shopping cores like Wakefield, Huddersfield, York, Harrogate, Skipton, Halifax...etc. We could do with some shops- the type which attract people, not little private speciality shops- between The Headrow, The Light, Merrion area and Millennium Square because its a bit of a lonely walk.

I'm with you Leeds No 1!!!

We need a flagship store at this location.

Exactly, small shops can go anywhere- its a rare oppurtunity to get such a large prominent store like this, so why waste the oppurtunity by putting spacky little shops in it. I hope the planning application is refused when it gets put in (if it does). Another place which could do with a good department store is Next Clearence (formerly C&A) which is quite a large store and could have a moderately sized department store in it.

Selfridges is something different, and its not just a shop, but an experience.

Heh, I can smell the cheese!

I will admit i dont really know Leeds very well, but i like popping into this forum. What i would say is that i dont believe John Lewis/Selfridges would opt for an existing building. Selfridges in particular like to make a statement and i can imagine they would want to develop their own store to put their mark on it, rather than inherit a vacated building no matter how nice it may look from the outside. Internally i dont think they would wish to be constrained by the existing layout of olders stores, they would end up ripping half the interior out and starting afresh which would no doubt be opposed by some and cost twice as much to do.

Exactly, small shops can go anywhere- its a rare oppurtunity to get such a large prominent store like this, so why waste the oppurtunity by putting spacky little shops in it. I hope the planning application is refused when it gets put in (if it does). Another place which could do with a good department store is Next Clearence (formerly C&A) which is quite a large store and could have a moderately sized department store in it.

Sorry No.1 Don't agree. Several reasons.

1. Its a 1930s building with old fashioned floorplates, escalators and lacking in adequate service/behind the scenes infrastructure
2. The delivery bays are a tight narrow lane backing on to the church and thus rather limited in their scope
3. Am sure Selfridges and John Lewis want a new build that they can specify requirements instead of cramming into an old fashioned (although full of character) building. There is no way a massive department store like Selfridges or John Lewis would take such a site when they have a habit of wanting eyecatching new build designs etc - see Brum Bullring etc.
4 Developers will get better margins by splitting into mixed use - apartments will sell for a packet (relatively), and carving into smaller 'boutique' style shops brings in smaller niche players (hopefully of the calibre of the residents of the Victoria Quarter).
5. One could argue that Selfridges is already a mixture of smaller outlets. My local in Oxford Street has more franchised operators e.g., HMV, MicroAnvika etc in it, it often feels like a shopping centre instead of a cohesive single department store.

Finally, I think the Next clearance store (ex C&A) will be redeveloped as part of Trinity Quarter (if it every happens). Again, its an awful old building which would not suit the needs of a prestige chain.

You might change your mind when you see what the old Odeon turns out like with one biggish store and about 8 smaller units. Its looking like a lovely conversion.

I will admit i dont really know Leeds very well, but i like popping into this forum. What i would say is that i dont believe John Lewis/Selfridges would opt for an existing building. Selfridges in particular like to make a statement and i can imagine they would want to develop their own store to put their mark on it, rather than inherit a vacated building no matter how nice it may look from the outside. Internally i dont think they would wish to be constrained by the existing layout of olders stores, they would end up ripping half the interior out and starting afresh which would no doubt be opposed by some and cost twice as much to do.


I do know the building and location and wholeheartedly agree with your comment JonJon.

+ in terms of living at this end of town apartments already exist in the upper levels of the Easgate buildings, are going into Cavendish House on corner of Albion Street and K2/Millenium Square is just round corner. More residents = better facilities = more of a 24 hr city than present. Critical mass dear boy - we need critical mass of residents to create community feel etc.

yeah that will be a Primark, which is OKish but could be better. Selfridges probably would want a new build, but would they get it? Im not sure about John Lewis though- John Lewis Liverpool is hardly a new build. I could imagine John Lewis in the Allders store, the only thing lacking in that store is decant entrances/exits.

I can't believe John Lewis would have turned down the opportunity to buy the Allders store, an iconic building covering a massive 280,000 sq ft.

I worked at this store when it was Lewis's, and it was always known that this building was one of the Uk's largest and most prestigeous department stores with a massive floorplate on 5 floors.

I can only believe that John Lewis is finalising plans for a new build store in the Harewood/Eastgate centre, and this is why they have not jumped at the Allders site.

It would be good if someone could gain some insider knowledge of whether this is true.

yes I must agree. John Lewis can't really afford not to have a store in Leeds for much longer because Leeds is such a massive city not to have one, and it would do much better trade than others. They do show interest in a store in the Leeds area; if they havent gone for Allders there must be some strong plans going through for a store in the Harewood/Eastgate Quarters, or maybe even the Trinity Quarter. I doubt they would open at the White Rose, but who knows....

John Lewis have details of where they are planning on opening stores on their web site...

http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/TemplatePage.aspx?PageType=CAT&PageID=16

(no mention of Leeds getting a store before 2009),taken along with Selfridges saying they are not opening any further stores other than the 5 (London, Brum, Manc x 2 and Edinburgh) they already have don't hold your breath on Leeds getting either in the near future.



They are opening another one in Manchester (at the Trafford Centre this time) opening 2005, and new department stores in Northern Ireland in 2006, Leicester in 2007, Cardiff in 2008 and Portsmouth in 2009. The Liverpool and Sheffield shops will also be relocated.

Robert Sayle has now moved to a temporary home in Cambridge. This move is to make way for the Grand Arcade scheme, which is due for completion in 2007.



Following the opening of new branches at Wandsworth, Sanderstead, Newbury and Kensington along with the conversion of 19 Safeway/Morrison stores during 2004, Waitrose will be opening new branches in Hersham, Surrey in June 2005 and in Droitwich in July 2005.
The Windsor branch has now moved to a temporary location in King Edward Court whilst building work takes place on the new shop due to open in 2007.

Work is also underway on the new building for Waitrose West Ealing which is scheduled to open in October 2005.

well why dont we email them and ask them why not in Leeds then give all the info we know on Leeds to flog it off. It will show demand and its obvious anyway really that Leeds is by far the UKs biggest city not to have 1, not even within its catchment.

Was having a little hunt around and the Iain Denby design concept site has been updated. Now, bit of a guess here, but think we have La Salle apartment block from Clarence Dock in Photo No1 - must be, and what could well be a redesign for Whitehall Road masterplan in image 3. No tall tower though, so maybe its an old one, or even not Whitehall Road at all, although photos 4&5 are the two office schemes (u/c) next door to the Novotel.

Like I say bit of a guess but I'm certain about La Salle. Real shame this chappy doesn't state the names of the schemes he's involved in.

Iain Denby (http://www.idenby.co.uk/photo1.htm)

Definitely Whitehall Riverside - could be the latest design because of the multi--coloured block in the background

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photoartistic3.jpg

di Livio can you get this onto the Whitehall Riverside Thread please? I would like to comment on the bog standard low rise nature of the proposals.

Definitely Whitehall Riverside - could be the latest design because of the multi--coloured block in the background

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photo-3.jpg

That river or canal looks a bit polluted :D

A projected apartment block on Queen Street, off Wellington Street.

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photomontage7.jpg

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photomontage4.jpg

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photomontage5.jpg

http://www.leodis.net/images/2002812_14071291.jpg

Warehouse Hill

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photomontage2.jpg

Oooo I like the looks of that :D Couple more stories would've been nice though :P

(The Queen street one)

Not sure what or where this is.
It resembles City West, or whatever it's called.

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photoartistic2.jpg

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photoartistic5.jpg

Love that last building. The others are ok, although to be honest theyre just a typical Leeds apartment block now.

Also on a side note about the polluted river.. Although im not sure about it being polluted some parts are not a very nice site. I wouldnt want to pay a whole load of money for a nice apartment to look out onto that.

Coming into Leeds today on the inner ring road (the one that takes you into town from the prison) I really loved seeing all the construction, once we have our BWP, Globe Rd etc in place that route will be stunning. But then I saw the river... MAJOR let down, I hope the council plan some kind of project or scheme to clean it up. It just looks like a country river with a few boxes next to it. Shame.

Is that terracota tiling I see for Warehouse Hill??? Oh dear!

The image below resembles Riverside West.

Not sure what or where this is.
It resembles City West, or whatever it's called.

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photoartistic2.jpg

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photoartistic5.jpg

Is this actually in Leeds? Ian Denby hasn 't done exclusively Leeds based projects - he had images of the proposed rebuild of Welford Road, home of Leicester Tigers, and one of the site's current images is of Imperial Quay in Newcastle, opposite the Baltic. I don't recognise that bridge or stretch of river anywhere in Leeds. Its quite a nice development, but not sure it is one for us. This site has provided us with enough already! Still, cheers for getting the images captured, although if he changes his site again we'll have to get the links updated.

I’m certain this is Leeds - these images where in Building magazine a few months back

Any more info on Warehouse Hill? That's site has stood empty for years! I remember seeing a (shortlisted, not winning) competition entry for it back in 2000 when I worked for an architect in Leeds. Didn't they have to redesign the winning proposal?? Doesn' look much better IMO. It's not horrible, but it could have been so much more...

Queen's Street deisign - I like the look of that!

I like the Queen Street design too but I think it needs to be a bit taller- I dont mean anything in the mid-rise area particularly, but just something that stands out a bit more on that street.

I like the Queen Street design too but I think it needs to be a bit taller- I dont mean anything in the mid-rise area particularly, but just something that stands out a bit more on that street.

It looks the right height for Queen Street to me. The buildings along the street are all a similar height, so does it not make sense to continue that? It's a nice design, I like it very much which is more than I can say for the Warehouse Hill design. That is a great site and is worthy of a quality design, not those horrible sub-Linfoot style lego blocks.

[QUOTE=rabbits field]Any more info on Warehouse Hill?
QUOTE]

http://www.leedscivictrust.org.uk/warehouse%20hill.htm

http://www.leedscivictrust.org.uk/images/warehillcj1.jpg

http://www.leedscivictrust.org.uk/images/warehillcj3.jpg

http://www.*******************/armouries-clarence-dock-feb03/image/img_0263.jpg

The development would ruin the historic view of the Aire painted by John Atkinson Grimshaw - Approved!

Also on a side note about the polluted river.. Although im not sure about it being polluted some parts are not a very nice site. I wouldnt want to pay a whole load of money for a nice apartment to look out onto that.


Er, guys, that was just a joke about how the stretch of grass in one of the renderings almost looked like a manky green canal...

Not sure what or where this is.
It resembles City West, or whatever it's called.

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photoartistic2.jpg

http://www.idenby.co.uk/images/photoartistic5.jpg

I'm fairly sure that is in Brighouse. The main building is a mill conversion, and the two curved fronted buildings are to be new build. The main building was quite extensively marketed a few months ago, and I recently saw the two new 'add-ons' advertised as a forth coming phase II.

like I say, can't imagine a Leeds city bridge or site that looks familiar. Even down towards Kirkstall, or even out towards Otley and Ilkley - Brighouse and out towards Cleckhuddersfax (as my parents call it) will be great - really eye catching block and will be a great asset for a waterside site.

Having analysed that Iain Denby thing I agree the renders appear to show development both sides of the river at Whitehall Road - v. interesting that it appears to suggest that the station carpark could be a prime site. Its a long sinuous siteconnected to Princess Exchange at one end which would be excellent, but seems hemmed in by the railway - would need good insulation to block that noise out. I've not seen anything in development bulletins etc about the station car park, so perhaps its another quiet development plan that might burst into life and surprise us all. Difficult to judge quality on only one rendering, but would certainly start to add density to the area.

On another note, am I the only one to think that the Warehouse Hill design is okay? Its a crappy car park with no public access at the moment, and at least this design will open it up somewhat. Surely its not a Lego brick design when looking ujp- river, I like the curved glass and yeah there is some red and yellow brick,but I don't think they are particularly offensive.

Proof in pudding I guess is approved, supposed to by a Taylor Woodrow development, but no movement on site at present, could be a test of the Leeds market as to whether the decide to get on and get it build. Its location is truely second to none.

[QUOTE=jimbo]On another note, am I the only one to think that the Warehouse Hill design is okay?QUOTE]

No, I like it too, and I agree the site needs something to cover the dereliction.

It's the context I don't approve of.

A few years ago there was a design for a discretely sized resturant on this site that seemed more appropriate given its history.

[QUOTE=jimbo]On another note, am I the only one to think that the Warehouse Hill design is okay?QUOTE]

No, I like it too, and I agree the site needs something to cover the dereliction.

It's the context I don't approve of.

A few years ago there was a design for a discretely sized resturant on this site that seemed more appropriate given its history.

Warehouse Hill is probably the best development site in Leeds and okay is the biggest praise that we can heap on the proposed designs! It doesn't need something okay, it needs something fanbloodytastic! I know I always harp on about it, but Leeds needs a truely iconic building and this is the ideal site for it.

I have just been in town this afternoon and my car was parked just outside the old semi derelict builders merchants building on the Warehouse Hill site, that's a great building, hope that whatever happens to Warehouse Hill it'll be incorporated.

Tonights YEP has a 2 page spread entitled, "Reach for the Skyline"

It covered the development of Leeds new towers and asked the question:

"Can Leeds City Cewntre create a distinctive skyline with the new towers blending well with the older buildings in the city.

It covered the usual arguments highlighting the accepted corridors now allocated for skyscrapers but did state that Criterion Place was at an advanced stage of planning which sounds very good news.

Also sounded that the Kite Tower may have a new home pretty soon.
One of the partners for Make, the design team for the Kite Tower said" We don't see ourselves as being in competition with new iconic buildings such as Criterion Place, in fact we like working with such projects to help form a new skyline"

Leeds Civic Trust made a lot of noise in the report saying: "The challenge is to create striking modern archtecture which does not overwhelm our existing buildings"

All in all, a positive report highlighting a great future for the Leeds forum!

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41041000/jpg/_41041983_win203getty.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41041000/jpg/_41041979_trophy_getty.jpg

Congratulations to Leeds Tykes on winning the Powergen Cup.
Is Leeds now a rugby city?

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41041000/jpg/_41041983_win203getty.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41041000/jpg/_41041979_trophy_getty.jpg

Congratulations to Leeds Tykes on winning the Powergen Cup.
Is Leeds now a rugby city?

Leeds always has been a major rugby city, it just happens to be league rather than union. I'm not really a fan of union, but it was great to see the Tykes win yesterday and hopefully will get the attendances up a bit. Union will always play second fiddle to league in Leeds though.

I was at Twickenham yesterday and the convivial spirit and good humour shown by the Bath supporters only reconfirms my following of rugby rather than football. Leeds demonstrated the best resolve and rear guard effort in yee-ages, and all credit to them after losing Balshaw and Christophers in the first half. Terry the Tyke was on form with his press up challenge infront of the North stand full of Bath supporters!

The Tykes are still only getting around 5,000 home supporters compared to the Rhinos 22,000 sell out, but if they escape relegation (beating Quins at home is a 100% necessity) and Justin Marshall arrvies from the Canterbury Crusaders and All Blacks then hopefully we can keep consolidating our position in the top flight.

Annoyed with Wilko more missing a last minute pen against Northampton on Friday that would have hauled them back into the mire. Hey ho. We sat behind Harry Gration in the second row of the 1st tier of the west stand and he was shouting and hollering with the rest of us! Hurrah.

Actually brought a tear to my eye seeing Mike Shelley, nine years a Tyke and the longest standing squad member lifting the cup instead of the crocked Balshaw - excellent touch - he's been a legend since his debut in 1996.

Tonights YEP has a 2 page spread entitled, "Reach for the Skyline"

It covered the development of Leeds new towers and asked the question:

"Can Leeds City Cewntre create a distinctive skyline with the new towers blending well with the older buildings in the city.

It covered the usual arguments highlighting the accepted corridors now allocated for skyscrapers but did state that Criterion Place was at an advanced stage of planning which sounds very good news.

Also sounded that the Kite Tower may have a new home pretty soon.
One of the partners for Make, the design team for the Kite Tower said" We don't see ourselves as being in competition with new iconic buildings such as Criterion Place, in fact we like working with such projects to help form a new skyline"

Leeds Civic Trust made a lot of noise in the report saying: "The challenge is to create striking modern archtecture which does not overwhelm our existing buildings"

All in all, a positive report highlighting a great future for the Leeds forum!

Seems like very good news, I've always thought that Kite and criterion would be a great trio on our skyline.

Coming in on the train the other day the skyline of Leeds was already starting to look quite impressive, and that's without any of the 30 storey plus towers up. When BWP, Plaze, Bridge House Kite and Criterion are all up there aswell it should be quite impressive, and hopefully have an image all of it's own.

Leeds always has been a major rugby city, it just happens to be league rather than union. I'm not really a fan of union, but it was great to see the Tykes win yesterday and hopefully will get the attendances up a bit. Union will always play second fiddle to league in Leeds though.

North Leeds (Roundhay, Headingley, Otley, Wetherby, Harrogate) remains a big Union stronghold however.

(Gration is a legend)

Seems like very good news, I've always thought that Kite and criterion would be a great trio on our skyline.

Coming in on the train the other day the skyline of Leeds was already starting to look quite impressive, and that's without any of the 30 storey plus towers up. When BWP, Plaze, Bridge House Kite and Criterion are all up there aswell it should be quite impressive, and hopefully have an image all of it's own.

I saw that, and it actually inspired me to buy a copy (although I sometimes get a Friday copy anyway to get an update on the latest property prices). I thought it was the most positive report I have ever seen about future high rise development in Leeds by the general media. There was more positive support for high rise development (in the right places) by almost all parties than I have ever seen, seemingly the bigger the better, and the more outstanding the design the better. People are seeing what is happening elsewhere, and don't want to see what the Civic Trust described as 'the fossilisation of the city' , they all finally seem to realise that we could easily miss out if we don't keep up in the big city race for the skies.

Evening All - good work on the building list Rob. I've had a look on the YEP website but can't seem to locate this positive high rise article you've all mentioned. Don't suppose it can be scanned in?

Anyhoo, good weekend, rendering of the Oakgate East Street development and COME ON THE TYKES!

Evening All - good work on the building list Rob. I've had a look on the YEP website but can't seem to locate this positive high rise article you've all mentioned. Don't suppose it can be scanned in?
Here's the link jimbo:

http://www.leedstoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=102&ArticleID=1000680

Although gawd knows what the 23 storey twin towers of the £70m Bridgewater Place is all about! Journos eh? Jeesh.

You lot seen these?

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/bridgewater_place.jpg
http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/bridgewater_place_new.jpg

Yes, but it's nice to see them again all the same.

In my impatience for an art cinema to open in Leeds, I uncovered these images of Portland Gate

I'm still not sure if an art cinema is part of this proposal. it would be madness not to have one in this location, between the city centre and the universities.

http://www.smithdimes.co.uk/images/portland-gate2.jpg

http://www.smithdimes.co.uk/images/portland-gate1.jpg

http://www.smithdimes.co.uk/images/portland-gate3.jpg

More car parking lost close to the centre. This is becoming a major issue for Leeds and needs to be addressed immediately!!!!

Is the Dry Dock poking it's bow somewhere there on the right?

Imagine the pitch...yeah, I'm gonna take an old barge and put on top of a traffic island in the middle of leeds, and then I'm gonna turn it into a pub. Still, right next to Leeds Met - if you build it they will come...to get pissed!

think a building like this is a lot more suitable to that site than a grotty open air car park! has this scheme been proposed or in planning?

think a building like this is a lot more suitable to that site than a grotty open air car park! has this scheme been proposed or in planning?
Like the Warehouse Hill scheme, this is another Taylor Woodrow project on which there appears to be no movement whatsoever. The cinema element of the plan fell by the wayside ages ago as no funding could be found. I think that part of the site was marketed again a year or so ago, but no news on who bought it.

think a building like this is a lot more suitable to that site than a grotty open air car park! has this scheme been proposed or in planning?

I agree but the point is that car parking space in Leeds is becoming more and more limited. All the Whitehall Road car parks have gone or are going, Portland will be going, likewise the one by the Round Foundary. These were also some of the more affordable car parks for people who work in the centre and have to drive in. There are few new car parking spaces being created to replace them and the ones that are are in exorbitantly priced multistories.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see a reduction in the number of cars in Leeds City Centre but given the dire state of the public transport system, there is little alternative for many people but to drive. Given the number of spaces disappearing, there needs to be thought given to creating affordable parking on the periphery of the city centre otherwise key workers will be unable to afford to park and this will harm the economy and Leeds' prospects for growth.

smoggie si- point taken bout the car parking issue but a site like this directly behind the civic hall, one of leeds most recognisable and prestigous buildings deserves to be more than a car park . imeanwhat impression does this give to visitors, this is prime land! but yeah car parking is a big issue quarry hill is also a an example.

mike in leeds- i posted this a few weeks back but i was driving past the site and saw a group of workers and two small drilling rigs towards the top end of the car park. not sure how relevent it all is to this proposal. but could be some sort of move ment

also does any one know what they are doin to those terraces directly accross the road to this site?

They where taking core samples on this site on Sunday, so there is some movement!

smoggie, the public transport in Leeds isn't reall the best, infact its not very good for a city of its size, but still, it doesnt stop people using it. You living in Horsforth means you can easily get a train into the city centre, or a bus if you wanted.

Yes, but it's nice to see them again all the same.

In my impatience for an art cinema to open in Leeds, I uncovered these images of Portland Gate

I'm still not sure if an art cinema is part of this proposal. it would be madness not to have one in this location, between the city centre and the universities.

http://www.smithdimes.co.uk/images/portland-gate2.jpg

Cheers for those, almost had forgotten what it looked like. I remember this being mentioned about a year and a half ago when the council chose these designs as part of a design competition (similar in scope to CP with three contestants). Since then there hasn't been a sniff except to say that there hasn't been any planning permission submitted and the potential cinema operator wanted a 3 screeen art house in that block wrapped around the Walkabout building, but they then pulled out citing financial feasibility. Heaven knows why, its in Studentland on the main student arterial route into town. The main block is supposed to be Leeds Met teaching space, residential units and retail/foodoutlets. Its a cracking location and hopefully if built won't impact on the Civic Hall (presume that's why there is a stepped feature away from the Civic Hall to lessen the impact).

Agree about parking, most excellent location for anyone coming down from North Leeds and when I did loads of shows at the Civic Theatre with Leeds youth Opera there was always sufficient space. People should use the Woodhouse MSCP instead, its always empty at weekends, not that that helps for weekday commuters.

You lot seen these?

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/bridgewater_place.jpg
http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/bridgewater_place_new.jpg

Are they new renderings, look alot nicer and curvier than previous renders?

you need to compare them, or at least look at the BWP 2 thread. the first rendering was the original with a very curved office block at the side of tower, the second image is the actual design u/c with a very blocky lowrise office element. That said, the curved tower front (described by morestoreythan I think his name is) as a 'female skyscraper' which I think is quite apt

+ the 'crown of thorns' around the top bit has disappeared if you compare the two.

Silly me for not looknig closely :) Glad the crown of thorns bit has gone, although I much preferred the curvy office section of the original render.

I much preferred the curvy office section of the original render.

Me too. I love the curvy organic look of the tower, but the blocky office section looks like a tacked on afterthought.

LN1, I could indeed get the train in from Horsforth were I not to live over 2 miles from the station! The bus route is pretty good, to be fair, but I prefer to ride in along the canal tow path, even though I end up covered in mud as my mountain bike appears to have a magnetic attraction towards puddles! :D

Is the height of this thing measured to the top ceiling, or the top of that pole?

The office section does look tacky and doesn't seem to fit the overall scheme as the original one did. Why on earth did they scrap that office design?

The office section does look tacky and doesn't seem to fit the overall scheme as the original one did. Why on earth did they scrap that office design?
I disagree. The original was overdesigned - far too many swoops of the architect's pen. Also, the use of aluminium cladding for the 10 storey office element was overkill. If you look at the website http://www.bridgewaterplaceleeds.com/ and click on Specification, it is telling that the cladding is described as "contrasting natural stone".

Although we all like curves (!) they have to lead somewhere and the eye is drawn all over the place on the original. Much better to have the simplicity of the roadside 10 storey set against the dramatic backdrop of the tower.

I'm sure an architect could describe the changes in more formal terms, but IMHO they did the right thing toning it down

i agree with magic. we know it for the 30 storey tower not the office element at the bottom we would nt want a swooshing curved building at the bottom to detract from the part we are all interested in the tower, or mini scraper!

I disagree. The original was overdesigned - far too many swoops of the architect's pen. Also, the use of aluminium cladding for the 10 storey office element was overkill. If you look at the website http://www.bridgewaterplaceleeds.com/ and click on Specification, it is telling that the cladding is described as "contrasting natural stone".

Although we all like curves (!) they have to lead somewhere and the eye is drawn all over the place on the original. Much better to have the simplicity of the roadside 10 storey set against the dramatic backdrop of the tower.

I'm sure an architect could describe the changes in more formal terms, but IMHO they did the right thing toning it down

I agree that the curvy original was OTT and a simpler more elegant solution would complement the tower better, but I still think that the blocky solution looks like a tacked on after thought. I'll be interested to see it in real life though, maybe I'm being unfair.

It certainly sound promising being natural stone cladding, the picture makes it look like grey plastic panels as seen in their full splendour on the hideous Green Flag building on the right of the picture.

I disagree. The original was overdesigned - far too many swoops of the architect's pen. Also, the use of aluminium cladding for the 10 storey office element was overkill. If you look at the website http://www.bridgewaterplaceleeds.com/ and click on Specification, it is telling that the cladding is described as "contrasting natural stone".

Although we all like curves (!) they have to lead somewhere and the eye is drawn all over the place on the original. Much better to have the simplicity of the roadside 10 storey set against the dramatic backdrop of the tower.

I'm sure an architect could describe the changes in more formal terms, but IMHO they did the right thing toning it down


Very well explained and I totally agree.

I much prefer the new design - I like the way the tower is divided into sections and I didn't like the spikes on the original also the 10 storey element is now in context with the area where as before it would have looked very odd.

With regard to car parks, with all the new large multi-storeys being built recently (Market, Criterion, Wellington, Clarence Dock, Quarry Hill to follow) I would think the open 'derelict' car parks that are being gradually swallowed up are being replaced, space by space. (as a multi storey replaces the area it's sat on multiplied by the number of decks).

As for public transport, it's not brilliant but is quite extensive. I go into Leeds daily from Horsforth (Victoria) each day by bus, and it's not a bad journey really. The supertram would be good (although it would be no use to us in Horsforth).

Didn't realise the office element is clad in stone, looked like those grey plastic panels from the render. Quite relieved about that as the stone should age alot better.

Make sure you don't miss the Paxman/Tony Blair interview in Leeds tonight.

Forgot to mention it will be on Newsnight, in case anyone didn't know that already.

Make sure you don't miss the Paxman/Tony Blair interview in Leeds tonight.


Just seen the interview.

Forget Blair and Paxman- didin't Leeds look fantastic in the background.

Thought it was London at first until I saw Leeds Town Hall in the background.

Wonder where it was recorded?

I think it was on the top floor of the Prices Exchange. He also had a walk round and interviews The Light earlier in the day.

Maybe I was being a little harsh calling it "tacky" but the office element doesn't seem to compliment the tower very well.

Just seen the interview.

Forget Blair and Paxman- didin't Leeds look fantastic in the background.

Thought it was London at first until I saw Leeds Town Hall in the background.

Wonder where it was recorded?


Surely it was the BBC's new building?

Behind Toni's head I thought I saw the green glass building on Qarry Hill (Leeds College of music I think?)

The Paxman interview was recorded somewhere in/near city square. Leeds did look good and the light looked fantastic. The whole thing showed Leeds at its best.

The Paxman interview was recorded somewhere in/near city square. Leeds did look good and the light looked fantastic. The whole thing showed Leeds at its best.


no way - you could see the building above the train station miles away in the background if it was in city sq it would have been much closer

You can see the interview via the Newsnight website.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/default.stm#

I hope Paxman made some reference to being in his home town

no way - you could see the building above the train station miles away in the background if it was in city sq it would have been much closer


Sorry - having looked at the clip again I take this back. I agree it prob was the in/near city sq as I think the bigest building in the background is 1 Park Row and the green glass is prob City Exchange.

Haward's turn tonight!

Just watched the interview again, and its deffinately Prince's Exchange next to City Station. Leeds looks fantastic from this view.

More on the future of the Allders building from this weeks Proerty Week:

Property week has learnt that the company (Capital & Counties) is planning a 500,000 sq ft redevelopment in Leeds at one of the city centre’s largest commercial properties…

The Leeds property is a six-storey 425,000 sq ft retail block on the north side of the Headrow, and will be redeveloped to provide space for four fashion retailers, a food store, two floors of offices, an underground car park and flats…

The redevelopment will include an extension to the fourth, fifth and sixth floors, designed by Manchester based architect Fairhursts design Group… The company has drawn up designs and will be submit a planning application within months.

There is also a photo but I am afraid my subscription has expired so I can no longer access the Property Week website.

Here it is

http://www.property-week.co.uk/Pictures/web/h/f/q/16_p14_building.jpg

Looks rather splendid - maybe there'll be a rooftop restaurant a la harvey nicks?

Looks rather splendid - maybe there'll be a rooftop restaurant a la harvey nicks?
And if it is right, it looks as if it will be finally completed and lose that lop-sided look.

Looks really good. i'm impressed!!!!

Remenber folks......it's St George's Day tomorrow, don't forget your red rose and have a merry old tipple!!

.............Englands day!!! :cheers:

Very very very strange - from the planning permission bit of the Leeds council website:

Application 20/27/01/FU
Received on 25/01/2001

Description
part 9 and part 13 storey mixed use development with 167 flats & ground floor & basement food & drink unit
Location
VICAR LANE LEEDS 2 OS3033NW MAJ
Library
Central Library
Decision Permission Granted Decision Date 14/04/2005
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Only taken 4 years to get planning permission. Now this could be one of two things. Either New York House, the Carey Jones designed block for the site of the old MGM/ABC cinema, or a proposal for opposite the Sony Centre and Sleep Inn, which has had a 'Oakgate developments' banner on the top of it for several years. Either way I really do't understand why its taken so long unless the developers have held back and waited until now to commence. The MGM cinema site has a 'sold' sign on it and maybe there have been lots of legal wranglings for Cala Homes in obtaining the actual site, despite planning the development years back. Either way, suggests that this parcel of land is not part of the Harewood Quarter.

I could be completely wrong, Vicar Lane is a longish road, but for new builds, the top end is the only logical location.

What thinks yee all?

Very very very strange - from the planning permission bit of the Leeds council website:

Only taken 4 years to get planning permission. Now this could be one of two things. Either New York House, the Carey Jones designed block for the site of the old MGM/ABC cinema, or a proposal for opposite the Sony Centre and Sleep Inn, which has had a 'Oakgate developments' banner on the top of it for several years. Either way I really do't understand why its taken so long unless the developers have held back and waited until now to commence. The MGM cinema site has a 'sold' sign on it and maybe there have been lots of legal wranglings for Cala Homes in obtaining the actual site, despite planning the development years back. Either way, suggests that this parcel of land is not part of the Harewood Quarter.

I could be completely wrong, Vicar Lane is a longish road, but for new builds, the top end is the only logical location.

What thinks yee all?

That does seem very odd, I would have thought that any developments on that side of the road would come under a central plaaning application as part of the Harewood Quarter development rather than on a piecemeal basis. The Cinema site seems the most likely I would have thought.

The Alders proposal looks good. It'd be great to see the right hand corner finally finished and the roof terrace looks fantastic, we just need to get the right weather for it!

Here it is

http://www.property-week.co.uk/Pictures/web/h/f/q/16_p14_building.jpg

Thats rather nice, would look better if the middle section was 5 or 6 stories higher though.

Could be used for so many things awell.. Flats, Offices, car park..

What thinks yee all?

It could be for the building that once housed Brannigans (of eating, drinking, cavorting fame) - the last time i was in Leeds it looked to be in the process of an internal refit. But the description given points to 'New York House'.

Latest Economy Bulletin is out. It has City One (the Jan Fletcher scheme) with a revised 26 storey residential tower.

I've done this skyline rendering, well its not very good but meh. It uses the panorama of Leeds' skyline from skyscrapernews. Do you think I would need permission to use it? I haven't got all the skyscrapers on it because there aren't suitable images of them. I think its quite accurate, although its hard to get them in the correct positing because its a panorama so everythings a bit distorted. I guess it gives a rough idea of what we could see though in the near future.I don't want to post it before I know I'm not gonna get in trouble for using that pano. I think Criterion Place on it needs to be much taller & bigger too.

I'm sure it'll be ok, but you could check with Gothicform to be sure.

As for the new look 'Allders' store, that'll be turning that part of the Headrow into quite a stylish new shopping area, as the next door 'Odeon' will be transformed into the new Primark Superstore soon, and across the road the new Cavendish House shops will be open by then too.

Primark in a stylish shopping area?

Dear god, I don't want to see the un-stylish part of Leeds.

I don't think that area could ever be as stylish as the Victoria Quarter which could easily compete with London.
I think The Headrow has alot of potential, but its very much underused. I would suggest after the revamp of the 'Allders' store, the new Primark store which I wouldn't say is very stylish- much rather see a cinema there- and renovation of the other shops along The Headrow, the central reservation needs new paving, with trees, but not flower beds or anything like what they've tried to do in some bits, and I think Eastgate could do with some good bars and stuff down there.
Dortmund Square needs a serious revamp- I wonder how Leeds Platz is doing too. Dortmund Square I think could do with a total rebuild, like City Square got, although I know he buildings are gonna be much different. The St. Johns Centre could do with a new frontage, although inside its OK, just needs some decant shops and maybe a bit more light and space in the upper mall.

st johns center did get a new frontage thet re did all the signs on the front and on the inside.not a total revamp i no but they have updated the graphics

yeah I know, but like a new frontage, and possible some floors added to the front- ontop of the St. Johns Cenre is potential for some prime office space.

I just read in the YEP that there are some new master plans for Granary Wharf. A few new buildings, not massive but it really does improve the area. One very nice 'stepping' building aswell.

From what I can remember it looked about 17 storeys give or take a few to its peak. Didnt read the whole article though as it was someones elses paper, only the first few lines.

Anyone got any info??

Here we go, found the article but no images.

Ambitious scheme to re-develop the city centre waterfront

By DAVID MARSH

AN AMBITIOUS multi-million pound scheme to create a waterside village in the heart of Leeds city centre has been submitted to planners.
Waterside regeneration specialist ISIS has drawn up plans for an office, residential, shopping and leisure development which will change the face of Granary Wharf at Leeds Canal Basin.
Bordered by Leeds rail station, the burgeoning Holbeck Urban Village, the River Aire and Leeds-Liverpool Canal, the site – currently used as a car park – would be transformed by three landmark buildings set around a major new public space.
The application proposes a total of 213 apartments in two of the blocks, with the final building accommodating 111,000 sq ft of offices. The existing retail and bar units within the railway arches will be retained and complemented by a further 32,000 sq ft of commercial, retail and leisure uses in the ground floor space of the three new buildings.
It also includes new footbridges across the River Aire and the canal.
Leeds-based architects Carey Jones have devised a masterplan which protects sight-lines of the Italianate Holbeck towers from the railway station.
Nigel Jacques, director of Carey Jones said: "The site provides a major opportunity for Leeds to take forward its regeneration agenda and further demonstrates an innovative approach to the built environment. The masterplan, jointly developed with Leeds City Council, offers the site the potential to become a place to live and all anchored by high quality public space.
"The creation of three high quality buildings as a landmark development set within the highest quality public realm will reinforce the vitality of Leeds' prime core, the surrounding area of Holbeck and the revitalisation of the waterway."
ISIS also selected London-based architects, CZWG, to design one of the residential buildings.
The historic graving docks will be restored and made the focal point of festivals and family fun days within the main area of public space.
ISIS says it is targeting high quality independent leisure and retail businesses, rather than national chains, for ground floor occupiers and is working with the existing commercial operators at Granary Wharf to include them in the scheme.
ISIS director Alastair Dickens says: "The philosophy was to bring the concept of the festival market out from the arches and into the daylight by the water where commercial operators can thrive.
"Granary Wharf has the potential to give Leeds a unique quality waterside location.
"This will not simply be another drinking destination or a sterile series of housing blocks, but a mixed-use quarter where the public realm and built form is of a higher quality than any comparable scheme."
ISIS is putting the plans on display this weekend in Arch U – next to the Wasabi restaurant – at Granary Wharf from 10am to 4pm and staff will be on hand to answer questions.

david.marsh@ypn.co.uk

I just read in the YEP that there are some new master plans for Granary Wharf. A few new buildings, not massive but it really does improve the area. One very nice 'stepping' building aswell.

From what I can remember it looked about 17 storeys give or take a few to its peak. Didnt read the whole article though as it was someones elses paper, only the first few lines.

Anyone got any info??


Check out the Holbeck Urban Village thread! m))

Check out the Holbeck Urban Village thread! m))

Shit, thats me not looking properly then lol.

Sorry about that.

As for the new look 'Allders' store, that'll be turning that part of the Headrow into quite a stylish new shopping area, as the next door 'Odeon' will be transformed into the new Primark Superstore soon, and across the road the new Cavendish House shops will be open by then too.

I agree, it's quite a turnaround for retail on the Headrow (Cavendish House, the Leeds and Holbeck building, Allders, the Odeon cinema and Eastgate).

Its all fantastic news after the loss of Allders.

With Trinity Quarter starting construction soon, Leeds retail scene will be vying for that top regional spot again very soon

Great feature in Thursday's Yorkshire Post about the development of Leeds skyscraper culture.

Although it goes over a lot of ground highlighted in previous reports, it does make interesting reading.

Main areas covered include:

LCC's open policy to develop skyscrapers at gateway locations around the city centre
BWP development- and how this will spearhead other larger developments like Criterion Place
Talks about Criterion's twin towers and asks whether the city can deliver such a massive project. Seems that the overall opinion is with such high demand for office space, apartments,and hotels, Criterion does have a good chance of coming off
How the Kite project will change the face of the so called Leeds Look foever.

Its a very positive read, which shows how our regional capital is competing with the best of Europes cities

When is the Trinity Quarter due to start? Later this year?
I thought this was a bit further away- like everything seems to be....

When is the Trinity Quarter due to start? Later this year?
I thought this was a bit further away- like everything seems to be....


Construction is due to begin Jan 2006 I think.

They were carrying out a survey outside Wilko's the other week, asking what route poeple would take if the shopping plaza was closed for 2 years while they built the Trinity Quarter. Good sign that things are moving forward.

ok, thats not too far away then- its already May! Can you believe it, this year is going so fast...
Why would the shopping plaza need to close? I know they're linked but can't they just close off that link- or does it mean that the whole of that section of Albion Street would be closed? I think the shopping plaza is OK- externally its not amazing, same inside, its ok though, could do with a few more shops- same with the Headrow Centre that looks a bit dead these days. Are some of the Trinity Quarter buildings going to be demolished, or are they getting rebuilt- in the way K2 did, or reclad or what? I know it will be all linked by the glass roof in the arcades though...

btw, just on that I don't like the idea of the glass arcade over Briggate- I think it would ruin its originality, I like it outside.

Dont like the idea of the glass canopies. If they're gonna do that, they may as well turn the town centre into a huge shopping centre.

yeah exactly- works well in the Victoria Quarter, probably Trinity Quarter and the existing arcades but not the larger, wider streets like Briggate. I have a feeling that if they did that, it would give a feeling of the era when city centres built massive ugly shopping centres and everyone moved out to out-of-town shopping centres, but now shouldn't we try and improve the city centres by working with whats there, instead of adding new things. The money it would cost to put a roof over Briggate would be better off going to a redevelopment of a shopping centre like the Merrion, or improving the streets (physically, like new street furniture, repaving...etc) and so on.

Is there anywhere on the board which has an overview of the trinity quarter project? I sure hope they aren't canopying over Briggate, would be an insane amonut of money to spend, which could be spent on improving the area in over ways.

Is there anywhere on the board which has an overview of the trinity quarter project? I sure hope they aren't canopying over Briggate, would be an insane amonut of money to spend, which could be spent on improving the area in over ways.

The canopy over Briggate was only a design concept from Koetter Kim architects.

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/Trinity%20Quarter%203.jpg

no they're not canoping over Briggate. As far as I know it was only an idea which is part of a seperate thing which I strongly doubt will happen. I dont think people would let it. http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/Trinity_Quarter.html 3 images there, one has an overview type thing...

No idea if anybody's picked up on this but there's a piling drill on that wee bit of grass directly next to the footy pitch belonging to the Burley Liberal Club. Could somebody inform me of what's happening there?

Evening all!

Fine bank holiday weekend, have been keeping up with developments on these forums for the past year or so, but thought it might be about time to introduce myself and express my support for the great work going on in Leeds! I am very excited about what the future holds, with developments such as Bridgewater and Criterion on the way... What about our Supertram though?

Welcome Willwright. See Supertram thread for more info, but I think everyone is holding their breath. There will be some fallout if this does not go ahead.

Can somebody tell me what the office building (around 9 storeys I think) is across the road from the International Swimming Pool? Right next to the ring road.. Its been built for some time now but always seems to be empty... ?

Can somebody tell me what the office building (around 9 storeys I think) is across the road from the International Swimming Pool? Right next to the ring road.. Its been built for some time now but always seems to be empty... ?

1 Park Lane. Office space, some of it has been let, but as you say most of it seems to be empty. Surprising really given its proximity to the legal quarter.

1 Park Lane

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/portfolio/details.php?page_id=487

I think there's only 2 floors empty now.

Calll Credit the credit Reference agency are in there among others.

Accenture too.

An updated Pevsner guide to Leeds is due to be released on the 23rd of June (written by Susan Wrathmell). It's £9.99 and should offer scathing criticisms of all your favourite buildings!

Here's the Sheffield one. http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0300105851.02.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

1 Park Lane. Office space, some of it has been let, but as you say most of it seems to be empty. Surprising really given its proximity to the legal quarter.

Its quite an important site for us seeing as Jan Fletcher is based on the top floor. When City One was originally announced she was profiled in the Sunday Times business section and the photo of her office was looking out over the International Pool in an office with sort of electric blue lighting round the outside, ergo 1 Park Lane. Whether she is still there or not I'm not sure.

Incidently I remember the old building on site and my mum taking me along to watch its demolition which was one of those on site controlled explosions that took the entire structure down in about 30 seconds. Most exciting when you are ten and have been demolishing your brothers' Lego constructions as a matter of habit.
:)

No idea if anybody's picked up on this but there's a piling drill on that wee bit of grass directly next to the footy pitch belonging to the Burley Liberal Club. Could somebody inform me of what's happening there?



I think this is just Yorkshire Water

Tonight on BBC1 - a programme sure to interest us all.

10:40 - A Short History Of Tall Buildings.

1st of 3.....

Leeds will have the highest number of smoking pubs after the 'ban'...

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/158/158328_south_more_likely_to_have_smokefree_pubs.html

South 'more likely' to have smoke-free pubs

ANYONE wanting to avoid a smoke-filled pub should stay in the south of England rather than head up north, a study suggested today.

Last year the Government announced that by 2008 smoking would be banned in all pubs and bars serving and preparing food.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) warned that this move could lead to further health inequalities emerging across the country.

In attempts to establish just how many pubs would be exempt from the new laws, the BMA found wide regional differences and a strong north-south divide.

Their report - Booze, Fags and Food - concluded that there were a higher number of non-food pubs in the north of England than in the south.

The BMA said the results of their snapshot survey undermined the Government's claims that only 10-30% of pubs do not serve prepared food.

Leeds was the city that had the highest estimated number of non-food pubs - making up around 88% of all pubs.

While the BMA contacted a sample of metropolitan, city and London borough councils in England asking how many pubs did not prepare and serve food on their premises, many were unable to provide such information.

Estimated figures were provided for 29 areas.

They found that of the 10 councils with the highest proportion of non-food pubs, nine were towns or cities in the north of England or in the Midlands.

While Leeds had an estimated 88% of non-food pubs, Bromley in London had the lowest at 5%.

Thirteen of the 29 areas estimated that the proportion of non-food pubs in their area exceeded the Government's 10-30% estimate - 10 of these were in the north or Midlands.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA's head of science and ethics, expressed concern about how the Government would implement its planned smokefree laws.

"How does the Government plan to implement its proposals when the information about non-food pubs is so hard to come by?

"A number of councils have told us that the Government's proposals are unenforceable.

Leadership

"The Labour Government has just started its third term of office, it's time it showed leadership and banned smoking in all enclosed public places."

The BMA said that people in lower socio-economic groups were already more likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke and the Government plans would make health inequalities worse.

Dr Nathanson added: "Just as the burden of smoking falls heavily on the poorest, so does the burden of passive smoking.

"While the professional classes work in smoke-free offices, low-paid, casual and service workers work in smoky environments, risking lung cancer to make a living.

"A waitress in a smoky bar is exposed to levels of second-hand smoke that are six times greater than a doctor working in a smokefree surgery."

Ian Foulkes, director of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said: "We believe that the only method of protecting workers in indoor environments from the effects of tobacco is for all workplaces to be smokefree.

"It is also our view that Government's proposals will be totally unenforceable.

"No one should be required to work in smoky indoor environments."

Prof Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "Reducing health inequalities is a major Government priority.

"But this report suggests that exempting private clubs and non food-serving pubs from the proposed smoking ban might well have the opposite effect.

"It would improve the health of some workers while denying similar benefits to people predominantly from lower socio-economic groups.

"The BMA also reports how difficult it is to get clear information on the proportion of pubs that do and do not serve food in a specific area. It is worrying that the Government has proposed this compromised legislation without a clear idea of its health impact and its enforceability.

"We urge Patricia Hewitt, the new Health Minister, to seriously consider these facts and to introduce fully comprehensive smokefree legislation in workplaces and enclosed public places as soon as possible."

well then why don't they just ban smoking in all pubs.

Student flats opposite Leeds Uni are almost complete.

http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/misc/020505 001.jpg

Did anybody else see the balloon over Leeds today? First of all, I thought it was a publicity/advertising thing but there was nothing on the balloon. Then I remembered (or thought I did) that they sometimes use balloons to get an idea of the height that proposed buildings will be. It was difficut to be precise but I guessed it was over West Central or over one of the Wellington Street/Whitehall Road developments.

i saw it!! if that is the proposed hieght then it is massive!!!

Here's a new image of the St George's flats, on Great George Street.

Had a quick look at the site and they seem to be up to 3 floors high already.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid168/p074d2c55f94fcf3b3d976ceb8db84b2f/f4221d16.jpg

Application 20/200/05/FU
Received on 03/05/2005
Description
external 8.4m x 5m media screen to side of proposed theatre
Location
THE CARRIAGE WORKS THEATRE MILLENNIUM SQUARE LEEDS 2 2984-3398
Library

this is quite an old image - but lets you see where the screen will be - on the portland stone beige bit on the far right of the image facing towards the Civic Hall

http://img195.echo.cx/img195/1189/electricpress6ef.jpg

i saw it!! if that is the proposed hieght then it is massive!!!Could you give an estimate? Maybe compare it to other buildings in terms of its height?

Also, a screen will look awesome there, Imagine people coming out of the station (seeing all the developments on the way in) then walking out, seeing CP and BWP provided CP is built, a busy city square, a big screen, then looking down towards West Central, seeing GB, Bridge House etc.

Could you give an estimate? Maybe compare it to other buildings in terms of its height?

Also, a screen will look awesome there, Imagine people coming out of the station (seeing all the developments on the way in) then walking out, seeing CP and BWP provided CP is built, a busy city square, a big screen, then looking down towards West Central, seeing GB, Bridge House etc.

hmmm, this is millenium square up by the Civic and Town Halls, not City Square! It will be on the wall of the new Civic (Carriageworks) Theatre facing the LGI (bet the patients will love it), the Civic Hall and the Qube/Cube bar type thingumy.

although if you walk from the station, up Park Row and past the Light, then you'd get to Millenium Square. Tis about a 5-10 min walk though.

Actually I realise I sound a bit patronising there - no offence intended.

it was probally double of what the height of the old royal mail building. forgotten its name. strange being the uber geek i am i took a picture on my new camera fone of the buildings rnd that area out of the staion windowand it is visible on it. if some one could host it then put it up here.

Jimbo hope you don't mind me posting this pic - it clearer to see the position of the screen in the space to the left of the glass.


http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/Millenniumsq/CIMG0538.JPG


Oh and Cube is now Cocoon I think

it was probally double of what the height of the old royal mail building. forgotten its name. strange being the uber geek i am i took a picture on my new camera fone of the buildings rnd that area out of the staion windowand it is visible on it. if some one could host it then put it up here.


If you'ed like to e.mail it to me I can host it for you.

m_peacock@hotmail.co.uk

sent you them pics guess thats an underscore
thanx

nope - that's a significantly superior image of the Carriageworks! Marvellous. I've not been home since February, but I imagine the Electric Press must be pretty much finished. Have any of the restaurants and bars opened yet (aside from Casa Mia). I know it'll take till Oct-Nov till the theatre is fit out fully, but I think the other leisure elements are due open by the summer.

sent you them pics guess thats an underscore
thanx


Yep thats an underscore although your e.mail has not yet come through


Jimbo - I don't think any of the restaurants and bars have opened yet

i sent you some pics b4 i think.did they ever come thru?

cube is indeed now cocoon, but that just means your three quid a pint goes to a different company. the opposite side doesn't seem to be open yet, i think there's maybe still a fair bit of internal fitting up to do?

Here's a new image of the St George's flats, on Great George Street.

Had a quick look at the site and they seem to be up to 3 floors high already.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid168/p074d2c55f94fcf3b3d976ceb8db84b2f/f4221d16.jpg

Havn't heard a thing about these? Wher'd these come from :O The shape's a bit ordinary, but the cladding looks good :)

looks okay - is that a sort of olive green cladding though? Bit of a new one for Leeds but sure beats terracota! Ole! Not sure the view will be great - the Inner Ring Road, St George's Crypt for down and outs and the car park of the infirmary. Hmmmm.

Looks like a sour sweet wrapper :P

i sent you some pics b4 i think.did they ever come thru?


Nope never received them. Sorry it’s taken a while to get back to you with these - been away for the weekend. I’ve e-mailed the url’s to you now as I thought you might like to post them yourself.

Can anyone help me i am going to Leeds on friday for the day. I have never been before and dont know anywhere. Can anyone tell me where's good to go and if there is a sightseeing bus in Leeds. I'm not going drinking i just want to go sightseeing. Many thanks.

http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/notmypics/blimp.jpg
hopefully this is the pic

you need to have at the start and at the end!

or use the yellow 'insert image' icon above the box where you type you message.

http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/notmypics/blimp.jpg
hopefully this is the pic
If this represents the height of the new tower, you're looking at 35 stories or thereabouts.

interesting - if the blimp is for that reason (guestimating impact of height of new development) then it is certainly the West Central phase 2 (redesign of planned 10 storey offices/commercial space) to a 40 storey or thereabout residential tower and casino by Sterling Scarborough / Bank of Scotland and KW Linfoot. We've only heard a few rumours, but if this is what it actually is then its great news. It will make a real impression on the skyline. I'm waiting with muchy excitement about this - Construction News talked of Multiplex in discussions to build it as they try and expand outside London. If they are involved it certainly suggests that the plans / rumours are true.

nice to see Whitehall Road office frame growing up to 5th floor or so.

I've not seen it myself but I've just heard that there is a blue blimp there today that apparently has no advertising on it! I'll get some pics if its still there later.

[IMG]http:/www.zetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/notmypics/blimp.jpg[IMG}

hopefully this has worked. nice Heavy metal. thanx

[IMG]http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/notmypics/blimp.jpg[IMG]

I can't understand why it isn't working for you?

http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/notmypics/blimp.jpg

http://www.zeetec.net/xhost/u/mpeacock/notmypics/blimp.jpg[IMG]
You've forgotten to close with the tag (you left out the / )

ps 60 has sussed it i keep leaving things out !!thanx for the help. some 1 has finally got the picture up!! thanks again heavy metal

but yeah that blimp was very high!