Tonioghts YEP

What a mega business park this is turning out to be!

Partners take control in buy-out at city's thriving business parkTHE management team at Yorkshire's largest business park has completed a £30m deal to buy a controlling stake.
David Parkin
Business Editor
The move by GMI Property Company and Scarborough Development Group to buy out Severn Trent's 51 per cent share of Thorpe Park, near Leeds, will trigger £350m of speculative office developments on the 270-acre site, which will create up to 15,000 jobs over the next 10 years.
Thorpe Park, the biggest business park development in the North of England, will now be jointly run by GMI and Scarborough Development Group, which are run by Peter Gilman and Kevin McCabe respectively, two of the best-known and most successful property entrepreneurs in Yorkshire.
Since work began seven years ago, 500,000 sq ft of office space has been developed at the park, which has blue chip tenants including IBM, Taylor Woodrow and National Grid, and most recently has attracted the relocation from Hull of the corporate head office of Northern Foods.
Work is also due to start in 10 weeks time on a new David Lloyd Leisure Racquets Club at Thorpe Park, which is next to junction 46 of the M1.
The development has planning consent for a further 1.4m sq ft of office accommodation and will see the start of an £18m investment in a further speculative phase of 80,000 sq ft in three buildings in the coming weeks.
James Poskett, managing director of GMI Property Company, said the site would see £350m of investment over the next decade.
"There are currently 3,500 people employed at Thorpe Park, but that should rise to 15,000 over the next 10 years making it the second-biggest business park in the UK.
"It is certainly the premier location in the North of England. We have got a real head of steam at the moment with a new headquarters for Hewletts civil engineers finished in August.
"As well as the David Lloyd Centre in the pipeline there is also a budget hotel, medical centre and child day-care centre," added Mr Poskett.
The deal, backed by banking group HBOS, saw Severn Trent Property, the subsidiary of the quoted water utility Severn Trent, relinquish its 51 per cent shareholding in Thorpe Park (Leeds).
Kevin McCabe, chairman of Scarborough Development Group and also chairman of Sheffield United Football Club, said: "We see this as an opportunity to consolidate our position and invest further in a scheme which now has critical mass and forward momentum.
Peter Gilman, chairman of GMI, said: "Severn Trent has been a very supportive partner in the development process that started with the original land options back in 1990.
"Both Scarborough and GMI have been shareholders in Thorpe Park for many years. The moment has come for us to take control and drive the development forward for the benefit of the city and wider region."
Severn Trent Property sold its stake in the site following a strategic review and deciding to concentrate on wholly-owned sites.
Thorpe Park has forged a number of unique relationships with the University of Leeds, which has located its Centres for Industrial Collaboration there.
Contracts are also in place to develop a 45,000 sq ft building in conjunction with Yorkshire Forward and Innovate, to build a serviced office centre. This building will feature significant element of green technology both in its construction and operation.
The board of Thorpe Park (Leeds) will change to reflect the new controlling interest in the company, however, the key management team will remain.
david.parkin@ypn.co.uk

always notice it when coming into leeds on way to ER, looks really good from the motorway

Posted twice by mistake.

This is a top business park. It's well worth taking a drive round. There are some really interestingly designed buildings. I think that at it's current rate of expansion it will need its own railway station soon. If you come in on the Selby line you can clearly see it from the train and it is expanding towards the tracks all the time.

http://www.thorpeparkleeds.com/index.asp

They should make a science park there to keep the people from the universitied in the area- that way the area will become more affluent in the long term.

Harrogate, why are you not responding to posts 823 and 853 in http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=3869863#post3869863 ???

Website now updated - claiming to be 3rd Biggest Business Park in UK News of a Carey-Jones Holiday Inn Express with Restaurant and more offices to come...
http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_hot_lrg/8_hotel,%20thorpe%20park_410.jpg
Not a big fan, don't hate it, glad it's not city centre though... Spose it's not grey atleast....

IMO the biggest waste of space - 270 acres of 2 storey ugly offices! Could have built a few towers and leave the remaining space to housing/public places/parks etc. And after this we'll be saying that there's not enough land for developments! Of course there will be no land left if to waste it like this. Sorry to be hush, but I've been working there for 3 years and had the same question every day - WHY? The only worthy place there is Thorp Park Hotel which is sheer quality, world-class really. But the rest is just rubbish....

In itself, its OK however its living in the principles of the past- out of town additions. Businesses should be put into the city centre for regeneration; the only real way to access it is by car and it doesn't want expanding any more.

IMO the biggest waste of space - 270 acres of 2 storey ugly offices! Could have built a few towers and leave the remaining space to housing/public places/parks etc. And after this we'll be saying that there's not enough land for developments! Of course there will be no land left if to waste it like this. Sorry to be hush, but I've been working there for 3 years and had the same question every day - WHY? The only worthy place there is Thorp Park Hotel which is sheer quality, world-class really. But the rest is just rubbish....

I'm bit mixed about this one - originally this was greenbelt, so putting anything here is kinda bad enough - don't think they should put towers here - it's mainly residential around. I see you point on taking up less valuable land though!
There is pretty big park land to be given over to the public as part of this (almost a bribe to the council in return for planning permission)
I do agree most of the buildings are run-of-the-mill/plain/ugly/cheap which is a disappointment.
It is a good claim to have 3rd largest business park in the UK. Pretty impressive list of tenants - including the only Northern branch of a Belgian bank, IBM, Leeds Uni, 4* Hotel etc etc
Goes to show the impact that building a new motorway can have....
The M1 has spawned Thorpe Park, Sainsburys et al opposite, Leeds Valley Park and the new Leeds Link Road with it's 30,000 jobs....
Imagine the effect that a Motorway link road between the airport South to the M62 would have... Acting as Leeds East/Bradford West ringroad (my 'dream' road)

Agree with all you say there- maybe to stop expansion, but not to build tall- think radical and build 'subscrapers'! And then we can go down, build dense but underground so not to ruin the area- then we can keep the importance of the park, without ruining the area. Its probably the future for out of town developments- all it needs is an entrance outside.

Not so radical - it's been done before!:

http://www.scuzz.com/womblespix/bookwonderfulworld.jpg

Not so radical - it's been done before!:

http://www.scuzz.com/womblespix/bookwonderfulworld.jpg

And there'd be no rubbish problems in the vicinity ;)

I was thinking more of CBBC Ghost Hunter (series 2) coz Im cool and watch that ¬_¬ (well when it used to be on anyway).

Where is the evidence suggesting Thorpe Park is the third largest business park in Britain I believe the largest is Slough :hahaha: followed by Aztec West in Bristol and I would have thought there would have been other large business parks at other locations along the M4 corridor such as Swindon and Reading (I know as I did this in Geography where the M4 is full of business and technology parks) and there is also a very large science park north of Cambridge. Im not really a fan of these though as they appear to reinforce car dominated spaces with souless dullitecture. However did I read on here that there is plans on building a train station to serve this development on the Leeds - York line?

There should be. I wouldnt be suprised if it was the 3rd largest business park- there are large ones on the M4 corridor though; but there are also large business parks on many other corridors- its a general convention.

IMO the biggest waste of space - 270 acres of 2 storey ugly offices! Could have built a few towers and leave the remaining space to housing/public places/parks etc. And after this we'll be saying that there's not enough land for developments! Of course there will be no land left if to waste it like this. Sorry to be hush, but I've been working there for 3 years and had the same question every day - WHY? The only worthy place there is Thorp Park Hotel which is sheer quality, world-class really. But the rest is just rubbish....


99% of out of town business parks are 'ugly'. They do provide however what many businesses want, relatively cheap accomodation close to the M-way network. Yes the buildings are unisprining but prestige accomodation is not going to be built next to a M-way junction on the edge of Leeds, if occupiers want that they will pay for it in the CBD.

I think Thorpe park is an excellent development for Leeds, 10-15 years ago large scale business parks was the one thing our city lacked but this and the development in the lower Aire valley once the link to J45 of the M1 is built provide excellent opportunities to attract businesses to the city and boost the local economy.

99% of out of town business parks are 'ugly'.

Firstly, not all, and secondly, why to follow the trend in building ugly offices? Do we want Leeds to become a second Slough? ... Why not to build something like this for example:

http://img288.imageshack.us/img288/7971/aerialview11be.jpg

Would not cost much more, and would create something to shout about. As it stands, I see it creating more problems, than solving them (parking to name just one - not long till people will be killing each other over parking space there).

Carey Jones' Boxwood @ Thorpe Arch...

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_off_lrg/2_boxwood_410.jpg

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_off_lrg/4_boxwood_410.jpg

Part of their master plan for the 2nd phase:

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_urbmast_lrg/thorpe_410_01.jpg

Carey Jones Architects are master planning the second phase of the 170, 000 sq m (1.8 million sq ft) business park at Thorpe Park, referred to as the Northern Sector, that will deliver individual offices, leisure and amenity buildings over 100 acres.

When the first phase was completed, this remit required Carey Jones to build on the park’s previous success and progress further, providing the flexibility to create office and research buildings of various sizes that were suitable for the modern occupier, and specifically to encourage inward investment.

The integrated design of the buildings into a new landscaped setting incorporates public art, cycle ways, and pedestrian routes connecting with the proposed extension of the existing public transport system. This is paramount in ensuring the success of the business park in the future.

Thorpe Park have commissioned Carey Jones to design a series of buildings that will utilise modern and attractive materials to create building types to suite office occupiers from a variety of backgrounds and industries who will have differing floor area requirements.

The design will include on-site leisure facilities, a new hotel, restaurants, cafes, a crèche and a leisure centre. Carey Jones Architects are working closely with Thorpe Park and Leeds City Council to ensure the integration of the business park with the surrounding area and incorporate new public facilities.

source (http://www.careyjones.co.uk/portfolio/details.php?page_id=477)

They also did this by the White Rose centre:

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_off_lrg/12_depuy%20hq_410.jpg

Part of their master plan for the 2nd phase:

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_urbmast_lrg/thorpe_410_01.jpg



The master plan on the Thorpe Park Website looks different to this - there are now lakes running through the middle of the park, and parkland to the left...

http://www.thorpeparkleeds.com/image/masterplan_small.gif

Firstly, not all, and secondly, why to follow the trend in building ugly offices? Do we want Leeds to become a second Slough? ... Why not to build something like this for example:

http://img288.imageshack.us/img288/7971/aerialview11be.jpg

Would not cost much more, and would create something to shout about. As it stands, I see it creating more problems, than solving them (parking to name just one - not long till people will be killing each other over parking space there).

Ugly offices are often cheaper to build, lower density means higher costs per sq ft of developemt and a larger sprawling park. That picture looks nice but I estimate that arounf 50% of the land is not taken up by development, something that would be inconceivable on a business park in Leeds considering how little land is available for development.

Leeds will not become another Slough, it is large enough to absorb these type of business parks without much effect on the image of the city as a whole.

Is parking really a problem there? I would have though that many prospective occupiers would be put off if there were not enough parking spaces for their employees.

The master plan on the Thorpe Park Website looks different to this - there are now lakes running through the middle of the park, and parkland to the left...

http://www.thorpeparkleeds.com/image/masterplan_small.gif

Also, doesn't the route of the proposed northern relief road pass through that area?

Ugly offices are often cheaper to build, lower density means higher costs per sq ft of developemt and a larger sprawling park. That picture looks nice but I estimate that arounf 50% of the land is not taken up by development, something that would be inconceivable on a business park in Leeds considering how little land is available for development.

Leeds will not become another Slough, it is large enough to absorb these type of business parks without much effect on the image of the city as a whole.

Is parking really a problem there? I would have though that many prospective occupiers would be put off if there were not enough parking spaces for their employees.

Pictured business park (Dubai Internet City) is built in a desert, so no particular worries about land costs, but still they built slightly taller and a lot nicer offices.

Parking is already a nightmare there, say company with an office for 20 people gets 5-6 parking spaces.

Agree Thorpe Park will not damage Leeds image, but will not improve either.

Ugly offices are often cheaper to build

Ah but are they? This is something that really interests me, does good design cost extra? Retailers like Ikea and H&M sell great design at cheap prices, surely it must be the same for architecture? A quality architect could design a simple elegant building to be constructed for no more than a lowest common denominator Whitehall Road type building?

Gothic asked for questions from this forum to be posed to Carey Jones many months ago and I asked this very same question.

Sadly it seems the interview never took place, although Gothic, of course, never had the common courtesy to keep us informed despite repeated requests. Ho hum!

I'd guess good design DOES cost more...
I'd guess architecturally, a stunning design takes more time (and cost) to complete.
Also a non-standard design leads to higher cost... Cladding is a classic example, where by a wall can be badly finished and constructed of breezeblock, then clad in cheap materials. If the wall were exposed brick, it would require quality finishing and more expensive brick.
Non standard design also requires non-standard shaped windows, roofing etc...
A sheet corregated metal roof on a square office building will be much cheaper than a non standard shaped tiled/glass roof. It will also be quicker to design and fit, with lower maintentance costs...

...then clad in cheap materials. If the wall were exposed brick, it would require quality finishing and more expensive brick....

You would not beleive how quality and inexpensive clad panels are. I bet many if not most modern Yorkshire stone buildings are covered by such panels, and you would not tell the difference.

Ikea and H&M (etc) can be cheap because they mass produce.

Generally on a building size scale, we don't think that good design can be mass produced. One reason why, I would suggest, is because we consider good design to constitute a large proportion of uniqueness and to be ground breaking, over and above functionality and cost.

Surely great design incorporates creating something that meets all the criteria expected for the cheapest price possible.

Ikea and H&M (etc) can be cheap because they mass produce.

Generally on a building size scale, we don't think that good design can be mass produced. One reason why, I would suggest, is because we consider good design to constitute a large proportion of uniqueness and to be ground breaking, over and above functionality and cost.

Surely great design incorporates creating something that meets all the criteria expected for the cheapest price possible.

Good design does not need to be ground breaking, indeed plenty of ground breaking design is a triumph of form over function e.g. Stark lemon squeezer and therefore by any objective criteria can't claim to be successful.

I was refering to the use of cheap everyday materials in an innovative and clever way such as bent plywood chairs by Arne Jacobsen, Charles and Ray Eames and now by Ikea. Look for example how a skilled architect such as Richard Rogers can make bare concrete and even corrugated metal look stunning as a component of Lloyds. Good design need not add cost!

In Leeds architectural terms, I'm thinking of the differences between say the Ibis hotel on Kirkstall Rd and the Jurys Inn at Brewery Wharf. Both budget hotels and therefore built to a strict budget, whereas to my eyes the Ibis is a striking, attractive piece of architecture but Jurys is bland beyond belief. I would bet that Ibis didn't cost any more relative to its size than Jurys, but was designed by an architect with an eye for making cheap materials look special.

I agree with you Smoggie - i was hypothosing the whay and wherefore's that things don't happen, and suggested what it is that makes it happen

From today's edition of the Business Desk:


£500m Thorpe Park blueprint revealed

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/assets/_files/cached/img/310x206/may_09/businessdesk__1243350392_Enviro.jpg?access=604T775T840
The Enviro building at Thorpe Park

27th May 2009

By Ian Briggs - Deputy Editor

A FAR-reaching masterplan for the second phase of work at a major Yorkshire business park is expected to create up to 15,000 jobs and put it on the map as a leading European business destination.

Kevin McCabe’s Scarborough Group International, owners of Thorpe Park on the outskirts of Leeds, has revealed plans for investment of up to £500m at the site.

The investment would make the already popular business park one of the top five business locations in the UK.

Scarborough Group International, working in conjunction with architects Make, creators of London’s Gherkin, have outlined radical plans which will include:

• a total development of 1.8m sq ft of office accommodation
• health and leisure facilities
• a budget hotel
• restaurants and complementary retail/coffee shops
• parks and water spaces
• an outdoor running track
• dedicated cycle and pedestrian routes.

Thorpe Park, which already has 600,000 sq ft of developed office space and employs 4,500 people, has attracted a high profile line-up of occupiers including brewers Coors, Dutch construction group BAM Construction, GE Money, IBM, the University of Leeds, the National Grid and construction company Vinci.

Andrew Richardson, one of the key figures working for Scarborough on the project, said: “In drawing up the masterplan we have put ourselves in the shoes of the occupiers and their changing requirements. Being just another business park was never an option.

"The outcome is that we have a location with facilities that means we can justifiably say we are a European business destination.

“We believe that the key to future success, growth and the development of a business or organisation in the seamless interaction of the people within the environment they occupy.”

"Our master planning for a cohesive and productive business community will produce results and a quality working environment. It will deliver bespoke new and sustainable quality buildings, suitable for a variety of occupiers.”

The latest tenant at Thorpe Park is Brio Pizza, which has opened at the park's Centrum development. It is the third restaurant in the Brio chain.

Good news for Leeds. Comes as the right time, providing cheaper out of town office space but with very easy access to the city centre.

Good news for Leeds. Comes as the right time, providing cheaper out of town office space but with very easy access to the city centre.

It is good news to see further plans for Thorpe Park. However is a railway station still planned to serve this development, will this development eventually take in that industrial estate where the former Vickers tank factory is located (and has anything been planned for that site) and I wonder how much development here (and the office tenants which took space at Thorpe Park) could instead have taken place in the city centre (eg: Wellington Place, Whitehall Riverside, Latitude et al) especially when the land here is of course green field.

I don't know but I hope a station does get built there. The website is slightly deceiving because if you didn't know the situation, you would think there was already a station there.

I don't know about how Thorpe Park may expand after this phase. I think it would be better for it to stop growing and focus efforts on the development of the Aire Valley. I'm suprised that similar development hasn't sprung up on the M621 corridor too.

On the Thorpe Park website masterplan, it shows 'direct train link to Leeds', however there is no mention of a station, and given no Metro on the website this must be 10+ years off if at all?...

As I understand it there is possibly a new link road to the park crossing the railway and joining Manston Lane?...

I think the old Vickers factory is fully/part occupied by a car auction website which uses it for car storage.

And I'm not too confident much of the Masterplan will be developed any time soon - there is no ongoing construction on site at present.

On the Thorpe Park website masterplan, it shows 'direct train link to Leeds', however there is no mention of a station, and given no Metro on the website this must be 10+ years off if at all?...

As I understand it there is possibly a new link road to the park crossing the railway and joining Manston Lane?...

I think the old Vickers factory is fully/part occupied by a car auction website which uses it for car storage.

And I'm not too confident much of the Masterplan will be developed any time soon - there is no ongoing construction on site at present.

The latest building to be completed is for Dr. Oetker, who are moving from an existing unit on Thorpe Park to the new one. Still, at least there's a Greggs on the ground floor.

Aah..Doktor Oetker. Quality pizzas aus Deutschland. Crazy but true. Had the great privilege of seeing their factory in Bielefeld from the train last year. I should get out more. :ohno:

Why the hell did they call it THORPE PARK!?

Because lots of places in Yorkshire have 'Thorpe' in 'em.

But seriously Thorpe Park? I can just see the daily plans...

Arrive at Office
File some Reports
Have some Tea/Coffee
Speak to Client
Have Lunch
Speak to Client
Ride the Nemesis Inferno
Have Tea/Coffee
File some Reports
Go Gome

To be honest, a roller-coaster might be an innovative way of attracting occupiers to a business park!

Reminds me of the new slide at Sheffield's Digital Campus (typical Daily Mail rant of an article, but has a good picture):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1177949/Taking-taxpayers-ride-How-public-spent-91-000-office-helter-skelter-theyre-allowed-use.html?printingPage=true

To be honest, putting slides in office buildings is actually pretty economical. Think of the energy savings where people aren't calling up the lift.

Why the hell did they call it THORPE PARK!?

I wonder if anyone mistakenly went to the wrong Thorpe Park by not entering the address correctly on their sat-nav (ala someone confusing Girona in Spain with Genoa in Italy or the countries of Slovakia and Slovenia)? :nuts:

In another thing regarding Thorpe Park is there any indication where the long planned A6120 Cross Gates and Seacroft bypass will be located in relation to this development? Although presumably many years off if built at all I take it it would be using a high standard almost motorway like grade seperated alignment and not just using the roads built as part of the Thorpe Park development and have the developers of Thorpe Park contributed any Section 106 costs to this possible future scheme?

I wonder if anyone mistakenly went to the wrong Thorpe Park by not entering the address correctly on their sat-nav (ala someone confusing Girona in Spain with Genoa in Italy or the countries of Slovakia and Slovenia)? :nuts:

In another thing regarding Thorpe Park is there any indication where the long planned A6120 Cross Gates and Seacroft bypass will be located in relation to this development? Although presumably many years off if built at all I take it it would be using a high standard almost motorway like grade seperated alignment and not just using the roads built as part of the Thorpe Park development and have the developers of Thorpe Park contributed any Section 106 costs to this possible future scheme?

Reminds me of the time that sets for the Bayreuth Festival were sent to Beirut.

I wonder if anyone mistakenly went to the wrong Thorpe Park by not entering the address correctly on their sat-nav (ala someone confusing Girona in Spain with Genoa in Italy or the countries of Slovakia and Slovenia)? :nuts:

In another thing regarding Thorpe Park is there any indication where the long planned A6120 Cross Gates and Seacroft bypass will be located in relation to this development? Although presumably many years off if built at all I take it it would be using a high standard almost motorway like grade seperated alignment and not just using the roads built as part of the Thorpe Park development and have the developers of Thorpe Park contributed any Section 106 costs to this possible future scheme?

I have the original UDP plans from June 1993 (fascinating maps). They show the A6120 bypass as starting where the new part of the M1 junction is (the bit with the two roundabouts). It runs north along the eastern boundary of the Thorpe Park site, curves around Manston and Penda's Fields, splits Scholes and Stanks, swings west over the top of Whinmoor, crosses the A58 Wetherby Road by the Wellington pub and joins the Ring Road at the northern tip of Roundhay Park just beneath Shadwell. I think, in reviewing the UDP, the council stepped back from this scheme but the 2008 adopted UDP has this statement regarding the whole of the Ring Road:

A6120 Ring Road Route Strategy between M1 at Austhorpe and Dawson’s Corner at Pudsey

This is a strategic orbital route around the North of Leeds which accommodates both strategic long distance trips and local short distance trips. Following transfer of the former trunk road section to the local authority, Leeds City Council has commissioned a study to provide a fundamental review of the entire A6120 Leeds Outer Ring Road from Austhorpe to Pudsey with the objective of preparing a long term strategy for the future development and management of the route. The study will also take into account the Phase 3 Eastern Edge housing proposal

and further on, with respect to the East Leeds Extension (a long-term reserve of land to be used in the event that brownfield sites do not come forward at the rate and in the quantity necessary to meet the annual average housing requirement set out in the Regional Spatial Strategy):

Development will need to be planned in an integrated way, which links to adjacent residential communities and employment areas. New highway infrastructure will be required at an appropriate level based upon an assessment of the need for a new orbital relief road which would not only serve the development but offer an alternative to the existing A6120 Ring Road and could relieve the main built up area from congestion. The costs involved with a new orbital relief road will be borne by the developer. The impact of such a road upon the highway system will be fully assessed and, so far as the trunk road network is concerned, this will be done in consultation with the Highways Agency.

So, movement on this is a long way off yet.

The UDP also mentions the Manston Lane Link. This will connect the top of Thorpe Park (and the M1) to Manston Lane, which is currently a very long cul de sac. The council favours developing the area above Thorpe Park and around Barnbow (Vickers):

While the scope for further employment use will be determined through the development framework it is recognised that significant scope exists to the north of Thorpe Park (E4:6). The timing of any employment proposals is not constrained by the housing land release mechanism and will be considered through the development framework and in relation to any necessary infrastructure provision.

However, the scale of development will be limited until the Manston Lane Link is completed.

I wonder if The Knack ever got lost when looking for their Sharona.

Had long concluded that this was no longer going to be expanded, but perhaps the future phases are back on:

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/developers_pledge_jobs_and_new_park_in_lasting_legacy_for_city_1_3796885
Developers pledge jobs and new park in ‘lasting legacy’ for city
Thursday 22 September 2011 09:28

DEVELOPERS are promising to bring new jobs, homes and a 110-acre park to an area of east Leeds.

Leeds-based developers have been working with Chamber of Commerce and council leaders on a scheme to bring thousands of new jobs to an area around the Thorpe Park business park, Colton.

Around 4,000 people already work there and it is hoped a proposed second phase business park will create many more.

There is room for several thousand new homes in the area but developers have emphasised it is very early days and planning applications have yet to submitted.

The proposals are being put forward as a long-term project that will see some developments within two years with more to follow over the next 10 years.

A spokeswoman for the developers – GMI Group and Scarborough Group – said the aim was to leave a “lasting legacy” in an area of Leeds which has not had its share of regeneration.

“The aim of the project is to kick-start economic and social opportunities for the community of east Leeds at a time of limited public funding,” said a spokeswoman.

Private sector money will be used to fund new learning facilities, a major park and sporting facilities, green space and other community projects in the area.

Comprising the land around and north of Thorpe Park, the scheme – called New East Leeds – is ready to begin shortly.

Over the next two years developers say they will provide:

A 110-acre public park, with sports facilities and open green space.

A revitalised Thorpe Park, with a focus on manufacturing, logistics, production, financial and business services sectors.

New homes at the former Vickers plant in Cross Gates – and other areas.

An extended road through Thorpe Park from the M1 to Austhorpe at Manston Lane, which will divert the traffic flow away from Cross Gates and serve new developments.

The spokeswoman said: “Alongside new housing development, an apprenticeship company will be established where young people are funded to work in local businesses and the Leeds universities and colleges will provide level 4 qualifications for young people and adults in the area.

Gary Williamson, chief executive of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The local authority has recognised the challenges in east Leeds and there has been some investment in the area.

“However, in this new era of limited public funding we need to look at new ways of tackling regeneration and economic development and only the private sector has the potential to deliver a project of this scale.

“Recognising that Leeds needed to adopt a new approach to regeneration, the Chamber went on a fact-finding mission to the USA to discover their approach to planning, revitalising and delivering large-scale developments in urban areas.

“NEL will adopt a similar model, with the public and private sector working in partnership to achieve a shared vision and common objectives, whilst using the Chamber as a broker to smooth away any difficulties.

“NEL will see developers, builders and consultancies delivering the funding for projects for the residents and workforce of east Leeds, whilst complementing and enhancing existing local priorities such as the Local Enterprise Partnership’s Enterprise Zone in the Aire Valley.”

“By building on the existing success of Thorpe Park, NEL will act as a catalyst for change in that part of Leeds.

“It is not simply about physical regeneration, but the social and economic transformation of an area that has not reached its full potential and which can help drive the future economic growth of Leeds and the wider City Region.”

The next stage will be a consultation process before plans are formally submitted.

Good map of the proposals on the Leeds Chamber of Commerce website

Here's the link to the map I presume LeedsLad is talking about:

http://www.leedschamber.co.uk/images/stories/pdfs/East_Leeds_Graphics.pdf

Notice the peach coloured area which is labelled "Area of search for East Leeds Orbital Route and associated development" - Is this part of the ring road due to be updated as part of the expansion plans?

No, I believe it's an entirely new road. The Thorpe Park bit is the very start of that, but I think it'll be built as and when needed, and when funding is available.

There's a more extensive discussion here: http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7384

if they really want to regenerate East Leeds, why don't they start in places like Cross Green and East End Park rather than just building around the depressed areas. surely that's going to make things worse?

Is it really a regeneration project though? Most of the site is greenfield.

I agree though that it largely won't regenerate East Leeds, although it does have the potential to take traffic out of Crossgates and off the A6120.