Wellington Place Development [Archive] - Page 3

aviator

February 12th, 2009, 01:35 PM

I've just spotted this update on the Wellington Place website.

http://www.mepc.com/uploads/403x477/beach.jpg

The Beach

At the western edge of the development the main pedestrian spine culminates in a significant public riverfront space – The Beach.

Two major features define the space, a new cultural building to the north and an existing abandoned rail viaduct to the west. The viaduct bridges the river then stops abruptly, its blank face anchoring the space and sitting as an industrial relic within the new landscape. There is potential to create a pedestrian connection to the upper level of the viaduct. This connection would link central Leeds to surrounding residential areas beyond the river, making the Wellington Place a major pedestrian access route and further animating the public realm. An indiciative location for a lift access to the upper level of the viaduct is illustrated on the adjacent plan.

The design of the cultural centre will respond to its landscape setting and is intended to be the architectural centrepiece of the development. It will be an exciting and innovative new landmark building on the riverfront; creating a cultural destination and extending the reach of central Leeds to the west.

The Beach, in which the cultural centre sits, is composed of a series of paved, grass and planted terraces stepping down towards the river.

At the top of the beach, the terraces are larger and envisaged to be more active, as they step down to the river, they become smaller, more intimate and closer to the natural river ecology. The variety of spaces these terraces create will attract people to use this area in the way that suits their personal needs; some will prefer to gather on the open grassed areas or use the larger paved terraces as a performance stage, whereas others will feel most comfortable resting in the quieter coves and niches created on the lower terraces.

LoveTheCity

February 12th, 2009, 07:58 PM

So, is the 'beach' devoid of sand then??? If so its really just another square/open space not a beach...

Alexi Lalas

February 12th, 2009, 08:48 PM

If it was sand it would just wash away

ahmedd

February 12th, 2009, 11:20 PM

So, is the 'beach' devoid of sand then??? If so its really just another square/open space not a beach...

It's 'urban' beach and most welcome it is too, at no cost to the general public.

cnosni

February 13th, 2009, 12:10 AM

If it was sand it would just wash away

Looking at the colours used in the render then it looks like it will have sand.

The sand wouldnt wash away as its will be contained,a bit like a childrens sand pit
Also the Beach isnt going to be at river level.

Frankly i wouldnt want to nbe at river level anyway,its not very clean.

having said that there has been salmon seen in the Aire.

Still in the tin

Still in the trolley.......

LoveTheCity

February 13th, 2009, 12:46 AM

^^:lol:

It's 'urban' beach and most welcome it is too, at no cost to the general public.

Did I ever say it wouldn't be welcome to the city?? We all know Leeds needs open space, but I thought it would be unique to the city to have ACTUAL sand, as I was led to believe by the naming 'beach', not just another open space seen in every other city in the UK.. Sheffield Peace Gardens, Manchester Piccadilly Gardens etc. Not that I wouldn't welcome that either...

Gherkin

February 13th, 2009, 02:28 AM

A beach with no jellyfish? I'm already there!

Rob

February 13th, 2009, 02:17 PM

So, is the 'beach' devoid of sand then???

Perhaps it'll result in Leeds having a beach in the same way that Brighton has a beach :)

Who needs sand :dunno:

LoveTheCity

February 14th, 2009, 03:08 AM

But I wanted to build a sandscraper :(

theboyer

February 15th, 2009, 12:32 AM

Looking at the colours used in the render then it looks like it will have sand.

The sand wouldnt wash away as its will be contained,a bit like a childrens sand pit
Also the Beach isnt going to be at river level.

Frankly i wouldnt want to nbe at river level anyway,its not very clean.

having said that there has been salmon seen in the Aire.

Still in the tin

Still in the trolley.......

Sorry for the pointless post but... lol!

Even Flow

February 27th, 2009, 04:46 PM

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3672/well1o.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

10123

February 28th, 2009, 04:15 PM

So whats happening with this, is it on hold or something as not much seems to be happening

aviator

February 28th, 2009, 06:56 PM

So whats happening with this, is it on hold or something as not much seems to be happening

As you will have read above, the developers are keeping things warm until the economy bucks up by laying out two temporary football pitches.

I assume these are the pitches:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/February%202009/February2009020-1.jpg

Unless, of course, the pitches are being laid out closer to the river:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/February%202009/February2009017-1.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/February%202009/February2009019-1.jpg

jimbo

March 1st, 2009, 04:13 PM

football pitches! Ha, nice touch, though a shame that it seems to be site nearest Monksbridge which I thought was going to host the rendered concrete block that tapers to a point.....was hoping that might have gone ahead in 2009....

So have we any idea which building they might start on first....?

aviator

March 2nd, 2009, 09:48 AM

.... a shame that it seems to be site nearest Monksbridge which I thought was going to host the rendered concrete block that tapers to a point.....was hoping that might have gone ahead in 2009....

Concrete?????? Wash your mouth out with carbolic soap :bash: That block is due to be clad in finest limestone.

tomd89

March 2nd, 2009, 05:08 PM

I'm sure I remember reading something about concrete too, that it would be breathable or something like that

jhthirdattempt

March 3rd, 2009, 06:46 PM

See Below Post.. double post .. oops

jhthirdattempt

March 3rd, 2009, 06:47 PM

Now they have taken down the electric points, Theres about 10 caravans moved in on the 'jolly giant' site now, and one main one. It looks like a film crew.
I cant quite read the writing on the biggest trailer (Looking from west point) But it ends with 'FILM'

jimbo

March 3rd, 2009, 07:23 PM

^^ Kevin Linfoot - the Movie (I Came, I Saw, I Stuttered and Bet the House). Could be up there with the Damned United.

Pardon my concrete team......!

Leeds No.1

March 14th, 2009, 05:18 PM

09/00782/FU/C Wellington Place General Partner Ltd
Temporary public square with seating and planting
Grid Ref: 429316433454
Tower Square
Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
Savills Commercial Ltd
R Serra
Ground Floor
City Point
29 King Street
Leeds
LS1 2HL
City & Hunslet
23/02/09
-------------------------

09/00804/LI/C Wellington Place General Partner Ltd
Listed Building Application to carry out internal and external repairs to Truck Lifting Tower
Grid Ref: 429191433381
2 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
Savills Commercial Ltd
R Serra
Ground Floor
City Point
29 King Street
Leeds
LS1 2HL
City & Hunslet
24/02/09

harryd

March 14th, 2009, 08:53 PM

Leeds No.1

March 14th, 2009, 08:54 PM

Makes sense considering those elements were never going to make any money anyway.

aviator

March 16th, 2009, 02:48 PM

I think the plan here is to get some public realm done, the square, lifting tower etc ... the footy pitches are going to be at the rear of the site nearest City Island/the pocket park...

The red gravel areas are the footprints of the proposed buildings
(My source for this info was the latest civic trust newsletter)

Ah yes, that would explain this new image on the Wellington Place website:

http://www.mepc.com/images/generic/businessparks/wellington/currentavailability_offices.jpg

Dan B

March 16th, 2009, 03:42 PM

Leeds No.1

March 16th, 2009, 07:38 PM

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Allotments-plan-for-Leeds-land.5075979.jp
Allotments plan for Leeds land where £450m project on hold

16 March 2009
Debbie Leigh

A SHELVED £450m Leeds city centre development site (which actually is not shelved at all) could be turned into allotments for local offices.
MEPC, developer of Wellington Place, off Wellington Street, had hoped to start work on its £450milion project by July this year but is now unsure when construction will start.

So it plans to transform the site into a temporary green space until the financial climate improves.

It has applied to Leeds City Council for permission to create a temporary public square with seating and has sent hundreds of online questionnaires to city centre residents and workers, asking for suggestions on what they would like to see on the site.

Chris Davidson, development manager for Wellington Place, said: "The Wellington Place development will take a number of years to build and it is important that we start to build a strong community now, making the estate more than just a place to work.

"We want everyone to feel part of the community and benefit from the attractive environment which we all share."

Mr Davidson said possibilities being considered included allotments where local offices could grow fruit and vegetables; a grassed area for sporting facilities; and tree planting.

Dr Rachael Unsworth, a geography lecturer at the University of Leeds, suggested the idea to MEPC and is working with the developer on the project.

The co-author of Around Leeds: A City Centre Reinvented said: "It was something that occurred to me in the middle of last summer when I could see that site after site was being put on hold."

She added: "Instead of it being a miserable time with nothing happening, it's a way of animating this space in ways we know that people are keen on."

Mr Davidson said: "Every development in the country is being delayed.
"Occupiers out there are deferring decisions and if they are deferring decisions it means we can't build a building for them as quickly as we would like."

He added: "The development will happen – but nobody knows when."

He said MEPC had already started a six-month plan of improvements and temporary landscaping was expected to start soon.

At the end of last year the firm received planning permission for phase three of the project for a building containing office and retail space.

When complete Wellington Place is expected to combine up to 2.6 million sq ft of commercial, retail, leisure and residential space.

Val Verde

March 16th, 2009, 10:17 PM

^ Think this is a fantastic idea, and a lot of developers could learn from this example as the thing to lay down while you're waiting for the economic conditions to improve, especially if they're long phased developments. I suppose this could give the area some activity in the meantime even if there isn't that many surrounding facilities or entertainments. But certainly the football pitches should attract people from surrounding offices or flats.

As for the other outlines for buildings, are those grey gravel patches also to be future buildings? In exactly that form? There's a very slender one proposed if that is true near the main road entrance. I'm guessing there's more buildings than the outlined ones proposed, but having the rest of site used in some way gives them the flexibility to say at that time whether they want to build further, a great idea.

I agree it is brilliant to put the Wellington Place site into use despite the current lack of development on this site. Presumably it would mean it would be rather a long time until the next phase, 7 Wellington Place finally commences construction and is there any reason why the 2 Wellington Place which had been complete since 2006 hasn't been fully occupied yet (and surely that doesn't bode well for other fringe office developments such as The Mint and Latitude)? Surely the fact that is still not fully occupied could be a reason why it has taken so long for any further phases of Wellington Place to take place.

jimbo

March 17th, 2009, 11:22 PM

its a good idea, and good on them for proposing something like that. Shame it means no imminent construction though. Ho hum.

tigerman

March 18th, 2009, 08:04 PM

I agree that its a good idea to do whats proposed and get some public access into the area.

From the last render though it does seem that 7 Wellington Place is the first phase when they get going - but I thought it had been stated that the corner building (no3?) and the urban beach were supposed to be the first phase. Was it ever announced that this had changed? - and I wonder what the reason was?

Suburban Knight

March 19th, 2009, 12:03 AM

I agree it is brilliant to put the Wellington Place site into use despite the current lack of development on this site. Presumably it would mean it would be rather a long time until the next phase, 7 Wellington Place finally commences construction and is there any reason why the 2 Wellington Place which had been complete since 2006 hasn't been fully occupied yet (and surely that doesn't bode well for other fringe office developments such as The Mint and Latitude)? Surely the fact that is still not fully occupied could be a reason why it has taken so long for any further phases of Wellington Place to take place.

7 Wellington Place won't be build in the current climate without a major pre-let on the building - the era of soeculative build is over for now. 2 Wellington Place has a few floors left in it - there is still some demand out there, but the economic climate means people are cautious, plus many of the largest requirements want an entire building, not just a bit of one.

Leeds No.1

March 19th, 2009, 12:11 AM

Latitude is still unoccupied too.

Suburban Knight

March 19th, 2009, 12:33 AM

Indeed it is Einstein, as are Broadgate, the Mint and Toronto Square. Things'll take a little longer in the current economic climate unfortunately; it'll be a waiting game over the next 2-3 years.

reggie

April 20th, 2009, 12:17 PM

Here are a few recent pictures - Looks like the Dark area to the Left in the first picture might be the "beach" Area talked about?

More to come.....

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5958/wellingtonplace.jpg

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7158/whitehall2.jpg

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9008/whitehall3.jpg

Leeds No.1

April 20th, 2009, 06:44 PM

At least it is looking a lot tidier than it did before.

10123

April 21st, 2009, 06:59 PM

Here are a few recent pictures - Looks like the

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9008/whitehall3.jpg

Apparentley this bit is going to be turned into a park?? Is this true? I hope so

aviator

June 18th, 2009, 04:01 PM

From today's Business Desk:

Downturn helps create £1m community space

18th June 2009

A DEVELOPER is ensuring that the public makes the most of a major Yorkshire site despite the recession forcing building work at the scheme to halt. Deputy Editor Ian Briggs reports.

LARGE tracts of land surrounded by boards and railings are becoming a familiar site in Yorkshire cities. A lack of liquidity coupled with falling occupier demand fuelled by the general economic downturn has resulted in many property developments being delayed or mothballed completely.

The majority of blueprints unveiled in a blaze of publicity only a couple of years ago have failed to materialise with the only progress being the bulldozing of unwanted buildings to make space for now uncertain developments.

Property development and management company MEPC may have seen work at its Wellington Place site affected by the recession but it is carrying out plans to allow the wider community to benefit from the lack of construction.

The company is investing £1m turning part of its 22 acre site into a city centre resource that can be enjoyed by those who live and work in the surrounding area.

Until market conditions improve and work on the 2.6m sq ft of commercial, retail and residential space can resume, residents and workers in the area will be able to take advantage of enhancements to the public realm.

Allotments for use by businesses in the area have already been introduced, while green space and landscaped walkways are currently being developed. A five-a-side football pitch is also being built for use by the business community.

The outline of buildings set to be built at the scheme have been laid out to give the people an idea of the future footprint of the area. MEPC's chief executive, Rick de Blaby, said: “Too many developers across the country seem content to leave large, undeveloped sites, often in the centre of cities, looking unattractive and rendered redundant.

"We’re in the business of creating sustainable estates with exceptional public realm that are great places to live and work. By opening up the site now, we’re laying firm foundations for Wellington Place to become a valuable and vibrant area of the city.”

Mr de Blaby, who said he would be "disappointed" if building work on site didn't start next year, said public spaces in city centres were perhaps more important than the buildings people work in.

"If we let areas degenerate, confidence goes and people's perception is one of degeneration which isn't helpful," he said. Mr de Blaby said progress at sites could be the difference between companies relocating choosing Yorkshire towns and cities as bases over other places.

"We just need people to engage in this across the city and we can make a difference. We thought we'd better set an example."

On the general property market, Mr de Blaby said he believed the downward slide was slowing but said the market wouldn't see any improvement for at least 12 months.

Produce grown at the 12 ‘urban gardens’ at Wellington Place will be donated to good causes in the city. Once the first gardens are established, MEPC plans to extend the area dedicated to the urban gardens to allow more surrounding businesses to get involved.

Adjacent to the gardens is a large open area where grass has been sown and 200 saplings planted. Once established, this area will be offered to the city as a space to hold organised corporate and sporting / social events.

To develop the initiative, MEPC collaborated with the University of Leeds to develop the 'Community Involvement Research Survey', an online questionnaire that allowed both local businesses and residents to voice their opinions and indicate what improvements and facilities they wanted to see in the future.

MEPC is also looking into seating around the site, public art and sculpture, historical information boards and recycling facilities including a wormery.

Two phases of Wellington Place have been completed, the latest being the delivery of 120,512 sq ft of office space at Wellington Place.

TomL-1991

June 18th, 2009, 04:24 PM

ahh i remember going to sound control to get some bits and bobs (for extortionate prices i've gotta add)!

This area is so big and flat, it's a real shame they can't build something BIG. It's in a prime location, a few minutes away from the train station and it's right next to the canal! I can't see why no-one will develop it.. i know, theres a tonne of untennanted buildings but it just depresses me lol

aviator

August 20th, 2009, 04:23 PM

http://www.mepc.com/uploads/243x243/soccer_central_logo.jpg

Now the football season's back upon us, here's the chance for all you city boys and girls to show what you're made of:

Five-a-side
Welcome to Soccer Central at Wellington Place. Located in the West End of Leeds our Five-a-side pitch is exclusively for corporate use making it the perfect way to get your business match fit.

Soccer Central features a 3G, outdoor, floodlit pitch with shower and changing facilities.

Available during lunch times and evenings, Monday to Friday, Soccer Central is exclusively available for businesses in the local area, on an invitation only basis. To register your company please contact 0113 389 9835 or e-mail soccercentral@mepc.com.

See here (http://www.mepc.com/wellingtonplace/Five-a-side/Five-a-side.aspx) for more details.

Bradley Hardacre

September 18th, 2009, 11:07 AM

I don't know whether this has been posted elsewhere as it's a few days old, but there was an article from Rod McPhee in the YEP suggesting that the Wellington Place site, or the central part of it, should form an urban park.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/rod-mcphee?articleid=5644550

Rod McPhee: Green space thinking

Published Date: 14 September 2009
IF you're ever near the Wellington Place development site just off Whitehall Road in Leeds take a walk across there – and just drink in that vast open space.
Due to the recession, developers who had hoped to build more shops and apartments, have been forced to put their original plans on ice, instead they've pledged to create some kind of temporary 'urban gardens'.
Which is undoubtedly admirable, but they really ought to consider some kind of permanent park, because when you stand in the centre of the space you get some sense of the massive, and I mean massive, potential of creating an expanse of green in the heart of the city.

Leafy zone

Since they've flattened all the old buildings, one can see how it could look. Already there's quite a few trees lining the site and beyond those are the apartment blocks which form rather a Central Park-esque quadrangle of buildings.
I guess I would say all this, of course, but I genuinely think the company concerned could also benefit hugely from the installation of some kind of lasting leafy zone.
Rather than pack it with buildings, why not just build around the edges, actually create an area which will be an incalculable asset when it comes time to rent or sell on the units?
Just imagine, whatever shops and apartments are built there will find themselves overlooking one of the most desirable spots in Leeds – a public park sandwiched between the riverside and the edge of the city centre.
Any estate agent in any major city will tell you that a property smack bang next to green open space soars in value and in a city where the market for flats already appears close to saturation surely they'd welcome gaining some edge over their rivals?
It may go against the natural grain of a developer to only build on a portion of the land but, even if they take a wholly selfish view, then thinking laterally here might just make more long-term profit.
And just consider the brownie points they could win in Leeds, maybe the council might be prepared to offer them help with finance or maintenance, maybe offer favourable negotiations in return for creating a civic asset? There's endless possibilities.
When the dust settles on this recession, developers are going to be have to work differently because they can't continue throwing up retail and residential developments.
They're going to have to consider how they connect with their surroundings in a way which will benefit them and Leeds as a whole. A city centre park would be just such an opportunity

Val Verde

October 9th, 2009, 08:57 PM

Another Rod McPhee article from the YEP about the wider regeneration process to the "West End" of Leeds City Centre including Wellington Place: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/features/Keeping-the-dream-alive.5715710.jp

Keeping the dream alive

http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED//TH1_810200954e4-0810-24-0710-142156.jpg
SCRAPPED: An artist’s impression of the aborted Green Bank development

08 October 2009
By Rod McPhee
Just six years ago the west end of Leeds city centre was the great white hope of our regeneration dreams – but it's hit the buffers. Rod McPhee looks at what progress has been made and where things have gone wrong.
IT was supposed to create a whole new waterside village containing more than 3,000 new homes and develop a business district which would pump billions of pounds into the local economy.

But the west end development zone – bordered by the railway line to the south, Wellington Street to the north and the inner ring road to the west – has unquestionably faltered since the grand scheme was unveiled at the start of the noughties.

Of the seven key projects drawn up, just two have been fully developed as planned. Not surprisingly the economic downturn has seen countless developers put construction on hold or plans slapped on ice. Some have been scrapped entirely.

City Island on the inner ring road and West Point on Wellington Street are the twin residential exceptions. Both were huge schemes which proved a hit virtually from the moment they were built. But they were planned and constructed long before a recession was even talked about.

Then the credit crunch started to bite other projects. Lumiere, the twin residential towers due to create Leeds's tallest building, was being developed jointly with KW Linfoot until the property developers went into administration earlier this year.

Now their partners have taken over the development and, thus far, say they remain committed to making it happen – their only hurdle at the moment is finding the necessary funding.

But others have pulled the plug altogether. The 800-apartment Green Bank development at the other end of Whitehall Road was shelved entirely. It was a massive blow for the development of the west end. But was it caused by the impending recession or the city living bubble bursting?

Guy Ackernley is a partner at King Sturge, one of the city's biggest property consultants, who were involved in selling and letting the Green Bank scheme before it was scrapped two years ago.

He said: "It wasn't, as some people claimed, the city living bubble bursting. We'd already had about 100 units moved. The city living phenomenon had changed but it was a combination of factors including the financial downturn and the huge rise in building costs of the project.

"I think now city centre apartments are becoming much more the field for owner-occupier rather than investors and that's a big sea change which developers everywhere, including the west end are going to have to take into consideration.

"We're currently dealing with the Isis development just along the road from Green Bank and we're letting at a rate equal to that of the good times, so city living hasn't died, far from it. It has just changed.

"There was once a time when developers were throwing up two-bed apartments of somewhere like 650 to 700 sq ft, now the flats we're letting are about 754 sq ft minimum.

"I think now the market has settled people are being more demanding and more discerning. But if the west end can evolve around those changes it could still be a massive success residentially."

But apartments are just one element of the west end's development. Of equal importance is office space, which is intended to create a whole new, shimmering business district for the city centre.

The idea was always to create a whole zone on the ruins of Leeds' industrial past which left this substantial stretch of the River Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool canal scarred by abandoned factories and warehouses.

Over the decades they started to fall apart with only wasteland and car parks taking their place. Only with the new mantra of 1980s and 90s regeneration did the prospect of turning this eyesore into a sought-after place to live and work start to burgeon.

It started with office space on the stretch of the River Aire directly next to Whitehall Road – and with some success. Already there is the Whitehall Riverside block close to Leeds City Station which has proved a big draw for companies wanting showpiece office space.

But newer projects haven't always enjoyed the same success. Just a little further along Whitehall Road – on the site of the old Monkbridge Foundry – Latitude has sat empty for months.

The aim of developers was to create five buildings offering a staggering 600,000 sq ft of space. To date only one of the buildings has gone up, offering a fraction of that space. So what's the problem? Why does one scheme succeed and another struggle?

Paul Fox is one of the partners at surveyors Fox, Lloyd, Jones who advise parties on developments, just like those in the west end.

They've been working with a large law firm in Leeds looking for new premises.

"We considered Latitude," he says. "And they offered us all kinds of deals and incentives but the concern from our client was that it was still a little far out of the city centre.

"The feeling is that the undeveloped sites between that end of Whitehall Road and the middle of Leeds remains a bit of a desert and they want to know that there'll be certain amenities on the doorstep.

"The trouble is that it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation – businesses won't locate until those amenities are there and amenities won't move there until they know there's businesses to create trade.

"But I think the MEPC Wellington Place could go a long way towards changing that and I think the west end still has massive potential. The trouble is that, if I'm being honest, you're looking at another five years before it gets back on track.

"The banks are still trying to sort out their finances at the moment and I'd be surprised if they start lending in 2010 like they used to, and even if they do start lending you're looking at 18 months to two years to get large projects built and open."

Both Fox and Ackernley agree that the Wellington Place project will be the jewel in the crown around which other developments are likely to burgeon.

Its sheer size and dominance. coupled with the variety of uses the developers intend for the space will turn the west end into a self-sustainable entity in its own right.

Chris Davidson, of Wellington Place developers MEPC, said: "We are in the middle of the west end and as soon as we start developing, it will unquestionably benefit the other developers around us and the west end as a whole. Likewise, it will also be advantageous to us if other developers start building in the area.

"We're really committed to creating a real community environment in the west end, which as well as high spec offices will include a hotel, cultural space, retail, bars and restaurants, as well as spacious residential apartments which are aimed more at owner-occupiers than investors. This is because we are committed to the west end for the long term."

Interesting article although I thought the second phase of City Island was still completely empty and a 3rd phase of that is unlikely to start any time soon and surely the city living bubble has burst considering the halting of most such residential developments as well as the decline in prices. Still Wellington Place is one development which probably really does need to take place to spread the city centre westwards although personally I can't see Lumiere ever taking place.

Has there been no news on Leeds City Council's planned office relocation yet which has been rumoured to include locating to the Latitude development?

Suburban Knight

October 12th, 2009, 01:06 PM

I can't see a LCC relocation happening in reality for a very long time - Merrion House is on a long lease.

coconutmacaroon

November 17th, 2009, 09:43 PM

I've noticed over the last week or so some minor works going on at the corner of Whitehall Road and Northern Street. Looks like they're putting down a road or sorts towards the lifting tower.

I just wondered if anyone knew what was going on. I thought it might just be part of their smartening up the public space, as in the picture.

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/2506/70117832.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/70117832.jpg/)

Tilman

November 18th, 2009, 07:14 PM

leeds_rules

November 18th, 2009, 10:57 PM

Electric_City

November 19th, 2009, 12:31 AM

So is the beach going to go ahead as part of the community space idea or will that have to wait until the building proper starts?

pss53

November 24th, 2009, 12:37 PM

This is what they've been doing... Looks like an access walkway for the possible new car parks ?

http://twitpic.com/qqn69

God's Own City

November 24th, 2009, 07:37 PM

have to say I'd really like to see this area developed as an attraction, rather than just more office space. I've talked before about how I'd like to bring a branch of the National Gallery to the city, and this could be the perfect site. Built it centrally and sculpt the park around it. Bingo, you have a massive tourist attraction for Northern England and city centre park in one go.

Leeds No.1

November 24th, 2009, 07:41 PM

Considering how large the site is, I think you could have both those things as well as the necessary office space.

wiggleyleeds

November 25th, 2009, 12:23 PM

its a shame the council cant get WP to build its HQ here.. thus kickstarting construction in this area.

Yes, there are other buildings already complete that the council could move into, but it would be better for leeds if they speculatively built.

I know theyre looking for something quick - but that seems silly really.

My guess is, however, that due to the slump they will be able to aquire one of the existing office builds much cheaper due to them being vacant for so long, such as latitude or the mint

Tilman

November 25th, 2009, 05:49 PM

aviator

November 25th, 2009, 06:15 PM

Absolutely right. Is the council pushing for a NG of the North ?

I rather doubt it. Most of the National Gallery's pictures are already on view to the public in the Trafalgar Square building so I can't see the NG's trustees agreeing to any of them making the trip north. However, many of the holdings of the Tate Gallery (both Modern and Britain) have to be kept in store so that might be a better source of art.

Then again, much of Leeds City Art Gallery's collection is in store so we could always make a start by bringing some of that into public view again. Not such a tourist draw, I suppose, but you have to start somewhere.

As for the mixture of uses for this site, I thought MEPC had already planned to have a building dedicated to cultural use.

lankee

November 26th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Yes one of the buildings fronting the "Beach" was designed to have a cultural use on the lower floors.

God's Own City

November 26th, 2009, 04:44 PM

the point is, what we need is a big 'flagship' arts project, not just a floor of art display. Personally I'd like to see the Henry Moore Institute expanded on current premesis, and move the City Art Gallery to a new location, and get in more art from those who worked/trained/born in the city e.g. Damian Hirst, and a flash new name e.g. 'Leeds Institute of Art & Sculpture'. Maybe work with the Art College to display student works as well. Leeds really lacks the good arts & museums scene that other big cities e.g. Manchester have.

di Livio

November 26th, 2009, 07:26 PM

Leeds really lacks the good arts & museums scene that other big cities e.g. Manchester have.

It's going to be like that forever. We must be the only major city in the north during the noughties not to have used to culture to raise the profile of the city nationally. But hey, we have a load of cement render apartment blocks and dated shopping centres. We're the best!

Leeds No.1

November 27th, 2009, 01:52 AM

It's odd that Leeds is such a centre for arts with one of the UKs most prestiguous art colleges and a collection of world-renowned artists, yet none of this has been exploited when it comes to galleries (except for the small Henry Moore Institute).

arfa

November 30th, 2009, 08:13 PM

The 'road' which has recently been built is actually a 'boulevard' so that people can walk to and from the Rail Station - it will have banners with tenant company names lining each side. Should be open soon. Not sure if they've given up on the trees or whether they wil be planted later.

Leeds No.1

December 13th, 2009, 03:13 AM

09/05069/FU/C I D Planning Temporary use (for 5 years) of vacant site for five 5 a side football pitches and 1 seven a side football pitch and construction of single storey changing rooms building.

Grid Ref: 428916433510
Land At City Gate
Wellington Bridge
Street
Leeds
LS3 1LF

ID Planning
Mr R Irving
Atlas House
31 King Street
Leeds
LS1 2HL

City & Hunslet
02/12/09

Smoggie_Si

December 15th, 2009, 02:00 PM

It's going to be like that forever. We must be the only major city in the north during the noughties not to have used to culture to raise the profile of the city nationally. But hey, we have a load of cement render apartment blocks and dated shopping centres. We're the best!

:lol:Ah but don't forget that we had the first branch of Harvey Nicks outside of London that opened up 12+ years ago. That means that LCC don't have to do anything other than crow about it in glutinous, self satisfied marketing materials and rest on their laurels for the next 20 years whilst other cities whoosh past us. :nuts:

Leeds No.1

December 15th, 2009, 02:10 PM

Hyping Leeds up has worked though. Whether it lags behind other cities or not has been irrelevant as city leaders have marketed the city in the way they have done. In other words, regardless of the reality, the reputation and impression of Leeds that people have nationally and regionally has gone up over the last decade.

oyster

December 15th, 2009, 02:14 PM

:lol:Ah but don't forget that we had the first branch of Harvey Nicks outside of London that opened up 12+ years ago.

Don't you start me off too!

Smoggie_Si

December 15th, 2009, 07:17 PM

God's Own City

December 20th, 2009, 09:31 PM

Skychaser 2005

December 20th, 2009, 10:22 PM

it just pisses me off so much the time and potential that is wasted away by the wankers on the council.

Branches of national museums (Manchester, Liverpool, Wolverhampton)-no.

Big regional museums (Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle)-no.

Performing arts-no.

Architectural significance-no.

There's just so much that can/could be done and the council have no drive to do it.

Which city are you referring to? Certainly not Leeds.

Natioanl Museums....Royal Armouries
Big Regional museums......Leeds new city museum £30 development opened last year

Architectural significance.....not sure where you are going with this, but Leeds has plenty Town Hall/Civic Hall etc

Yes the council could do more, but I don't think we are doing that bad against other cities now that the Arena is being built (£55m) and other cultural developments like the Northern Ballet/Phoenix Dance Centre (£12m) and City Varieties Restoration (£10m)

oyster

December 20th, 2009, 10:25 PM

Big Regional museums......Leeds new city museum £30 development opened last year

I wouldn't call it a big regional museum by any stretch of the imagination.

Leeds No.1

December 20th, 2009, 11:21 PM

Perhaps not the City Museum, but the Thackray Medical Museum is a 'big regional' museum.

zzzzzzed

January 13th, 2010, 03:24 PM

Anybody know what is happening at Wellington Place?

The outline of the largest (triangular) building has been cordoned off and some sort of preparatory work seems to be going on.

pss53

January 14th, 2010, 10:30 AM

Anybody know what is happening at Wellington Place?

The outline of the largest (triangular) building has been cordoned off and some sort of preparatory work seems to be going on.

Car park, just making extra space for monthly contracts and permit holders...

Bradley Hardacre

February 19th, 2010, 10:57 AM

Some good news.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/businessnews/Leeds-20m-deal-to-kickstart.6087355.jp

A £20m property deal could help kick-start the stalled Wellington Place development in Leeds.
A £20m property deal could help kick-start the stalled Wellington Place development in Leeds.
Benson House, owned by MEPC, is believed to be under offer for an estimated £20m.
And it is expected that funds from the sale of the property will be used to kick-start MEPC's flagship project, an ambitious city centre office and residential scheme put on hold due to the economic downturn
Benson House, home to Pricewaterhouse Coopers and law firm Ward Hadaway, is understood to have been put on the market for bids over £18.31m.
MEPC said it plans to submit a planning application to Leeds City Council for No 3 and No 10 Wellington Place in the next few weeks.
Plans
Rick de Blaby, chief executive of MEPC, said work could start as soon as next year if the plans are accepted.
It is understood that the sale of the key building within MEPC's portfolio, wil be used to help fund the two buildings which total £24m.
The Wellington Place development is on the site of the former Leeds Central railway station, which closed in the mid-20th century.
In a separate deal also signalling signs of a property recovery, No 1 Whitehall Riverside is under offer for about £50m.
The news marks the second time that the site has been sold in the last year and the investment deal is believed to be one of the largest outside London in 2010

LeedsLad

February 19th, 2010, 01:51 PM

aviator

February 19th, 2010, 02:03 PM

3 & 10 are a small and mid sized block (relative to the whole development) and they are closest to Wellington St. It would be brilliant if this scheme can finally commence construction. However, no mention of 7, which already has permission?

Could it be that MEPC will test the market with one or both of these smaller blocks just to get things moving? Then maybe flex their muscles with the bigger ones? Just a thought.

Suburban Knight

February 19th, 2010, 02:39 PM

Think I read in the YP that Number 3 has been cut in height to 6 storeys, but good that it's actually going to go ahead and probably speculatively, as MEPC are good at leasing offices floor by floor rather than going for one big pre-let.

Val Verde

February 21st, 2010, 05:14 PM

Some good news.

A £20m property deal could help kick-start the stalled Wellington Place development in Leeds.
Benson House, owned by MEPC, is believed to be under offer for an estimated £20m.
And it is expected that funds from the sale of the property will be used to kick-start MEPC's flagship project, an ambitious city centre office and residential scheme put on hold due to the economic downturn
Benson House, home to Pricewaterhouse Coopers and law firm Ward Hadaway, is understood to have been put on the market for bids over £18.31m.
MEPC said it plans to submit a planning application to Leeds City Council for No 3 and No 10 Wellington Place in the next few weeks.
Plans
Rick de Blaby, chief executive of MEPC, said work could start as soon as next year if the plans are accepted.
It is understood that the sale of the key building within MEPC's portfolio, wil be used to help fund the two buildings which total £24m.
The Wellington Place development is on the site of the former Leeds Central railway station, which closed in the mid-20th century.
In a separate deal also signalling signs of a property recovery, No 1 Whitehall Riverside is under offer for about £50m.
The news marks the second time that the site has been sold in the last year and the investment deal is believed to be one of the largest outside London in 2010

Didn't Wellington Place already start over a decade ago with the likes of Price Waterhouse Coopers office which I am sure was constructed in the 1990s and of course there are the first two buildings of Wellington Place towards the Wellington Street end which have long since been completed?

Anyway at least there could potentially be something new happening at Wellington Place which has certainly been dormant for a long time although nothing is guaranteed. Where abouts will blocks 3 and 10 be located and I take it they are the buildings sited on what is currently red surfacing next to Whitehall Road and will it still appear as they do on the render below?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5IYC6S-YnQ4/SthG5k17EKI/AAAAAAAAACM/ZhBgkQ9K5M8/s320/Offices+To+Let+Rent+Leeds.jpg

Wonder if the news that one of the buildings at Whitehall Riverside has been sold of could also mean something happening there?

LeedsLad

February 21st, 2010, 06:13 PM

3 & 10 are a small and mid sized block (relative to the whole development) and they are closest to Wellington St. It would be brilliant if this scheme can finally commence construction. However, no mention of 7, which already has permission? :bash: I don't mind questions but at least read the prior few posts first?!

Block 7 is in the picture you posted above.

Val Verde

February 21st, 2010, 08:28 PM

:bash: I don't mind questions but at least read the prior few posts first?!

Block 7 is in the picture you posted above.

Thanks for letting me know and sorry for the mistake. :bash:

Any renders of Blocks 3 and 10 and I guess whilst permission could be granted it could of course mean it could be ages until construction actually eventually starts even if planning permission is granted. Where will the two blocks be sited?

LeedsLad

February 21st, 2010, 09:43 PM

Try here http://www.mepc.com/uploads/files/7286_WellPlace_Book.pdf

di Livio

April 11th, 2010, 09:58 AM

MEPC Sells Benson House for £20 Million to Lancashire County Pension Fund

30/03/2010

MEPC today announces the sale of Benson House to Lancashire County Pension Fund for £20 million achieving a net initial yield of 7.4%. Benson House is located on the award winning MEPC Wellington Place development scheme managed by MEPC.

Currently occupied by Price Waterhouse Coopers the rent is at £1,549,660 per annum on an unexpired term of 11 years, with a break clause in six years.

MEPC were advised by King Sturge. Knight Frank Investors acted for Lancashire County Pension Fund.

I also noticed an ominous reference somehwere on the website to 'Design and Build' plots available at the Wellington Place development.

And this... (David Sillito did an appalling hatchet job on the Yorkshire IIFA Awards in 2007 with a report about 'A World Premiere. In Carstleforrd?')

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8507598.stm

di Livio

May 12th, 2010, 07:49 PM

Wellington Place video (click on the black image, top right)

http://www.mepc.com/wellingtonplace/Wellington-Place-Leeds/My-Kind-Of-Place.aspx

Gherkin

May 13th, 2010, 03:20 AM

^ The narration is badly written, but the video as a whole is quite encouraging. :)

di Livio

June 18th, 2010, 03:04 PM

http://www.propertyweek.com/news/no-beef-with-leeds%E2%80%99-wellington-place-development/5001371.article

Val Verde

June 20th, 2010, 07:02 PM

http://www.propertyweek.com/news/no-beef-with-leeds%E2%80%99-wellington-place-development/5001371.article

Noticed that article myself. Something does really need doing to the Wellington Place site sooner rather than later though although of course it appears by the tone of that article that nothing will take place soon and it is the case of the developers sitting on the land and doing nothing any time soon.

LoveTheCity

June 22nd, 2010, 02:53 AM

I hope when work does start again, It's these two buildings that go up. I love the design, has an air of real quality about them, instead of the usual sub-standard design and cheap plasticy materials we're used to having (GW & BP not included obviously). LTC.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5IYC6S-YnQ4/SthG5k17EKI/AAAAAAAAACM/ZhBgkQ9K5M8/s320/Offices+To+Let+Rent+Leeds.jpg

Even Flow

July 9th, 2010, 06:06 PM

Application for the next block at Wellington Place is in.

http://planningapplications.leeds.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=L4RQT6JB0FZ00

Interestingly, they have made quite a few changes to the masterplan to reflect the downturn in the economy.

Also, for those of you wanting images, check out the design and access statement at the link above, it is absolutely jam packed with loads of images of all the blocks, the landscaping etc.

Leeds No.1

July 9th, 2010, 07:17 PM

Good to see that building heights have largely stayed the same. I was worried that they would reduce heights and end up under-developing a prime city centre site.

tigerman

July 11th, 2010, 07:25 PM

That design and access document has some great images and info - although they have reduced the heights overall the quality still looks great and will produce a lovely developement. But when will they ever start?

wiggleyleeds

July 11th, 2010, 10:02 PM

which docs do u need to look at to find the pics?

tigerman

July 11th, 2010, 11:25 PM

^^
In the Associated Documents list look at 'Background Papers - DESIGN AND ACCESS'

Its near the bottom of the list.

aviator

July 16th, 2010, 11:31 AM

There's another planning application in, this time for an office block next door to the one that Even Flow informed us about last week. As before, all the associated documents are to be found here (http://plandocs.leeds.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=10/02974/RM) and the design and access document has all the renders you could want to look at.

di Livio

July 20th, 2010, 04:00 PM

http://www.fcbstudios.com/websiteImages.aspx?projNo=1339&rank=3&type=3

LoveTheCity

July 21st, 2010, 01:56 AM

Love it.

coconutmacaroon

July 21st, 2010, 02:28 AM

Are West Riding House and the Park Plaza putting in cameo appearances in that picture?

Leeds No.1

July 21st, 2010, 02:38 AM

It would appear so!

FreddyFresher

July 21st, 2010, 02:18 PM

are they still going to be as high as the buildings in di livio's post? I thought the heights of the building had been revised down to reflect the 'economic climate'?

LeedsDesigner

July 21st, 2010, 02:25 PM

Whats going on down there today?

I was passing by on my lunch and there is a large tent going up and a lot of people jogging around. I'm assuming the joggers are part of the military fitness but what is the tent for?

Leeds No.1

July 21st, 2010, 02:30 PM

BannockBurnt

July 21st, 2010, 06:15 PM

Electric_City

July 21st, 2010, 07:08 PM

It's not a tent - they're raffling off Ann Widdecombe's underwear :yes:

arfa

July 21st, 2010, 07:55 PM

MEPC are having a barbecue again this year as they did last year. I think the barbecue is cooked inside the tent. The band (Beatles tribute) was also in the tent so I guess they will be in there again this year. The barbecue is a charity event, although I don't know how it works as it's free for people who work in MEPC buildings (and no-one else is invited). You have to register on a website to get your free ticket.

Shoddy

August 5th, 2010, 11:24 AM

From The Business Desk

MEPC submits plans for Wellington Place

5th August 2010
By Ian Briggs - Deputy Editor, Yorkshire

DEVELOPER MEPC has submitted plans for the next phase of its major Wellington Place scheme in Leeds.

Andrew Barlow, managing director for the development, said the two planning applications built on the firm's success over the first quarter of the year.

The applications are a further fillip for the region's property market following progress at both the Trinity Leeds and Eastgate Quarter schemes in Leeds.

MEPC has submitted plans for Number 3 Wellington Place, which would stand at the junction of Wellington Street and Northern Street.

The initial designs are for a 110,000 sq ft Grade A office building offering floor plates up to 19,000 sq ft.

Another application has been made for Number 10 Wellington Place which would see a smaller 30,000 sq ft Grade A office building constructed.

The building would have a maximum height of five storeys with floor plates of up to 6,700 sq ft.

However, if planning permission is given on the two buildings, it is not clear when building work will start.

Mr Barlow said: “We have submitted planning applications for Number 3 and Number 10 Wellington Place and are building on our success of the first quarter of 2010.

"We feel positive about the future expansion of Wellington Place and our recent £1m investment into the greening of the site demonstrates our commitment to its continued growth and to the city of Leeds.”

MEPC recently completed a deal to sell Benson House, which is located on Wellington Street and is occupied by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers and law firm Ward Hadaway, to Lancashire County Pension Fund for £20m.

A number of office buildings have been constructed by MEPC at the site but it has also launched a number of community facilities while building work has been halted because of the economic downturn, including a football pitch and allotments.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/46988-mepc-submits-plans-for-wellington-place.html?news_section=7

Val Verde

August 6th, 2010, 08:46 PM

Also an article on the YEP website: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Leeds-city-centre-developers-submit.6460895.jp

I guess it is a case of i'l believe it when I see it considering the relative lack of progress on this development in the past ten years since it was first announced even during better economic times.

Even Flow

August 24th, 2010, 08:03 PM

I think the heights have been reduced a bit, although I don't know what that means for the designs.

My worry with the height reductions is that in the long term, it will result in the site being underdeveloped.

Hmm, I was reading through a few Civic Trust responses to various planning apps today, and there was one regarding the recent Wellington Place proposal. Notably, they are very concerned with a 'dumbing down' of the scheme and a loss of quality, highlighting the change from Martha Schwarz to Gillespies on the landscape side, and 'World - class architects' to..........Carey Jones on the masterplanning and architecture side.

Not sure when they took over from FCB Studios, but having studied the masterplan changes closely I have to say the Civic Trust have a good point. Carey Jones seem to have replaced the taller tower element of the scheme with a mish mash of 'plonked' square lowrise boxes, (Sorry you might have to look at the masterplan my description isnt great!), and taken the theme of FCBs office blocks and 'commercialised' them for want of a better word. Real shame, as alot of FCBs work I have seen close up has a real quality to the finishing.

Leeds No.1

August 24th, 2010, 08:09 PM

Well this situation fits perfectly with what I was saying over on the Lumiere thread. Why not retain the previous densities to create some quality urban spaces, but remove one or two buildings in certain places to introduce park space.

Even Flow

August 24th, 2010, 11:22 PM

Yep, thats exactly what I think. It would be far better to have a few slightly taller buildings thus negating the need for these horrible short blocks that are placed haphazardly around the lifting tower, in all honesty the relation of these blocks to the tower is really poor if you see the masterplan. There should be a nice big space around the tower where the workers can actually relax, instead it is hemmed in by low rise indistinct blocks that seemingly have no relationship with it whatsoever.

I still think one of the best places for some open space is on Whitehall Riverside, if a number of the smaller midrise blocks were changed for a few taller elements there would be a nice large area of space opening out onto the water. It has been noted before that the water in Leeds is too 'hemmed in' and this seems a fantastic opportunity to change this as part of the West End partnership.

Leeds No.1

August 25th, 2010, 12:30 AM

I completely agree, nothing more to say.

Rob

August 26th, 2010, 11:27 AM

I totally agree too, the biggest let down of many of these big schemes is the masterplanning which just seems poor and totally unimaginative.

Wellington Place is just the same as many others (City 1, Quarry Hill etc) they are all based on cramming loads of low rise blocks to cover almost all the site, instead of placing the same floor space in fewer but taller buildings and providing some dramatic open spaces.

I suppose it's because it's cheaper and that's all they can afford to develop now, but what wasted opportunities!.

di Livio

August 26th, 2010, 02:11 PM

Notably, they are very concerned with a 'dumbing down' of the scheme and a loss of quality, highlighting the change from Martha Schwarz to Gillespies on the landscape side, and 'World - class architects' to..........Carey Jones on the masterplanning and architecture side.

Isn't this the story of Leeds in the last ten or so years? Dumbing down while other cities such as Manchester push the bar higher. Grumble.

Even Flow

September 10th, 2010, 10:26 PM

Isn't this the story of Leeds in the last ten or so years? Dumbing down while other cities such as Manchester push the bar higher. Grumble.

Yep, without raking up old ground I really hope this isn't a wasted opportunity.

Anyways.........these proposals are up for resolution at the plans panel next week.

FreddyFresher

September 11th, 2010, 11:27 AM

I guess that even if these plans are approved construction of the scheme will be dependent on pre-lets before construction can begin?

Urban Wurzel

September 17th, 2010, 11:41 AM

Sorry to double post this article, but there's some valuable info @ the bottom regarding Wellington Place...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/sep/16/blogpost

Yorkshire Boy

September 17th, 2010, 12:11 PM

Sorry to double post this article, but there's some valuable info @ the bottom regarding Wellington Place...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/sep/16/blogpost

^^ Indeed:

Major office proposals off Wellington Street get approval

Two applications for thousands of square metres of new office space at Wellington Place, off Wellington Street, were given the go-ahead.

A five-storey storey office building next to the Grade II Listed Lifting Tower was described in a council report as creating:

"...A successful backdrop to the listed lifting tower and will visually contain the northern side of the main square at the centre of the Wellington Place development. It will be a high quality building and conforms to the objectives of the approved masterplan."

A six/seven storey office building with basement car park was also approved for the same site.

Andrew Carter said: "In general terms, these plans are first class."

EverLast

September 18th, 2010, 10:10 PM

Wellington place on BBC News.

http://www.mepc.com/tv/Videos/WellingtonPlaceBBCUrbanGardens.aspx

LeedsLad

September 24th, 2010, 02:07 PM

Buildings 3 & 10 discussed at latest plans panel. Also found this; http://plandocs.leeds.gov.uk/WAM/doc/BackGround%20Papers-302768.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=302768&location=VOLUME2&contentType=application/octet-stream&pageCount=1

Basically the proposal is to build one large and one smaller building, on the land closest to Wellington St, leaving the rest of the site (incl riverside & lifting tower square) for future phases. Least it's a start!

Leeds Troll

September 24th, 2010, 02:23 PM

nice ^^ lets hope something happens soon then..

The one that leeds!!

September 24th, 2010, 07:46 PM

leeds lad cant open your link, is there any time frame for making a start?

di Livio

November 16th, 2010, 06:28 PM

Yorkshire Boy

November 16th, 2010, 07:19 PM

Are they sticking with the same masterplan? Same heights and designs?

aviator

November 17th, 2010, 10:32 AM

Check out 'Mixed Use' and 'Wellington place' for a couple of new renders.
Carey Jones have a pretty awful portfolio of work by the looks of it.

http://www.careyjones.com/content/pages/main.asp

Also, Lowfold (Page 4)

http://www.careyjones.com/uploads/pdf/100%20Days%20Brochure_download.pdf

The Wellington Place renders aren't actively bad; I think you'd walk or drive past without really noticing the buildings. The trouble is they're nothing like as good as the Feilden Clegg Bradley designs which were submitted for planning approval a year or two ago.

I suppose we have to blame the recession which has made MEPC scale back their Wellington Place plans, both the overall size and the quality of design.

Leeds Troll

November 17th, 2010, 10:15 PM

I saw this on that site, it's wellington Block 3? isn't that the one going through planning at the moment?

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/melfiire/SnapShot840.png

Sorry about the quality i had to zoom in to get a decent shot...

10123

November 17th, 2010, 11:19 PM

There are two renders, which one is it?
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9997/wellingtonv.jpg

Edit: I reckon it's the one I posted as it looks cheaper (lack of large windows like other buildings etc)

10123

November 17th, 2010, 11:23 PM

I love this office block, although it fits in with the surrounding railway building I do feel it could be alot higher.

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/7051/wellington.jpg

Leeds Troll

November 18th, 2010, 12:20 AM

I Think both of them are great, click the link and scroll down to page 8
the picture i posted was from there, i don't know if it's the old or most recent design but it's worth taking alook nevertheless :dunno:

http://www.careyjones.com/uploads/pdf/careyjones_526_27072010154038.pdf

Leeds Troll

November 18th, 2010, 12:21 AM

I love this office block, although it fits in with the surrounding railway building I do feel it could be alot higher.

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/7051/wellington.jpg

And that is very nice, is that also going through with the planning with block 3?

Leeds Troll

November 18th, 2010, 12:30 AM

Does anyone know whats happening with Whitehall waterside? i remember at one time they had planned for a couple more towers to be built which included a 75m tower? ring any bells i think KW linfoot had some part in it, but he went under didn't he!

pss53

November 18th, 2010, 09:30 AM

Bollocks to that, dont build anything there, with the council closing all the private car parks we'll have no where to park, oh there's always the council's £15 a day car parks...

Val Verde

November 18th, 2010, 07:35 PM

Well I do like the look of Wellington Place 3 although who knows exactly when the building will finally be built?

LoveTheCity

November 20th, 2010, 03:20 AM

Bollocks to that, dont build anything there, with the council closing all the private car parks we'll have no where to park, oh there's always the council's £15 a day car parks...

Top Trump: Rose Bowl, 5 Hours+..... £25!!!!

this_city

January 21st, 2011, 10:37 AM

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7158/whitehall2.jpg

Guys and girls,

Does anyone know what the little grey units near the tower are being used for? are they shipping containers??

di Livio

January 21st, 2011, 10:43 AM

Guys and girls,

Does anyone know what the little grey units near the tower are being used for? are they shipping containers??

It's a little temporary MEPC office for the Wellington Place development.

this_city

January 21st, 2011, 10:54 AM

It's a little temporary MEPC office for the Wellington Place development.

cheers di livio, do you (or anyone else who may be reading this) know if they are actually cargo containers? someone at work is trying to find out about a group of cargo containers down there and i thought it might be these but i haven't been down in a while to know what is actually there.

i have a feeling they are getting confused with something else around that area. any ideas? :?

aviator

January 21st, 2011, 11:08 AM

cheers di livio, do you (or anyone else who may be reading this) know if they are actually cargo containers? someone at work is trying to find out about a group of cargo containers down there and i thought it might be these but i haven't been down in a while to know what is actually there.

i have a feeling they are getting confused with something else around that area. any ideas? :?

You're right, they are shipping containers. There was a piece about them in the YEP a year or two back. I've been to a couple of meetings there and it's rather nice inside, certainly not reminiscent of being shut in a shipping container.

this_city

January 21st, 2011, 11:24 AM

You're right, they are shipping containers. There was a piece about them in the YEP a year or two back. I've been to a couple of meetings there and it's rather nice inside, certainly not reminiscent of being shut in a shipping container.

thanks guys, turns out it was this thing my colleague was talking about... they just thought it was being used for a different purpose.

tigerman

January 21st, 2011, 11:43 AM

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/27%20July%202008/ad745945.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/27%20July%202008/3db6a99a.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/27%20July%202008/21ba2735.jpg

^^
These are the 'containers'.

BannockBurnt

January 21st, 2011, 07:31 PM

Needs a mummified politician to give it the finishing touch. Perhaps troops could be reviewed from the podium.

Suburban Knight

January 24th, 2011, 12:40 PM

It's a little temporary MEPC office for the Wellington Place development.

They're also home to LCC's city workshop, where John Thorp and his team can draw their big colourful maps and have their models laid out. When the architects aren't playing with their toys, it's also a very useful meeting space for various policy teams in City Development to use.

pss53

January 31st, 2011, 09:15 AM

Really surprised no one has taken this up...

http://www.no1leeds.com/

Could be a great head office for a company??? Near enough to the city but near enough to the motorways...

Mikeyp

January 31st, 2011, 11:50 AM

Nice simple website

Shiny_Dave

January 31st, 2011, 01:25 PM

Love it how the website says its 3h 40m to get to London by train! Nowt like doing yourself a disservice! No wonder it's empty if their marketing is that good!

Leeds No.1

January 31st, 2011, 01:32 PM

Rob

January 31st, 2011, 02:23 PM

That is a good website, I like the little animated road, rail and air travel pages, very nice.

BannockBurnt

January 31st, 2011, 05:50 PM

Look again- 3hr 40 is what it says for road. It says 2hr 15 for rail. There's a little design flaw there though in that it says 2hrs to Birmingham, and just an extra 15 mins to London- which of course we know is true because it's on different lines with different linespeeds. But for anyone who doesn't know about linespeeds and all that (which is most people), they're likely to think that information is wrong!

Anyone would have to be dense to Olympic Gold Medal standard if they didn't realise that to get from Leeds to London you go nowhere near Birmingham. Oh, I was forgetting about Londoners.

cmj

February 2nd, 2011, 11:09 PM

Anyone would have to be dense to Olympic Gold Medal standard if they didn't realise that to get from Leeds to London you go nowhere near Birmingham. Oh, I was forgetting about Londoners.

Yes, anyone would have to be a complete imbecile to suggest building a railway line from Leeds to London that goes though Birmingham.

Oh, wait.

Loiner's Girders

February 3rd, 2011, 10:11 AM

Yes, anyone would have to be a complete imbecile to suggest building a railway line from Leeds to London that goes though Birmingham.

Oh, wait.

And nobody would run a motorway from Leeds to London within 30 miles of Birmingham either.

Skychaser 2005

February 3rd, 2011, 07:01 PM

And nobody would run a motorway from Leeds to London within 30 miles of Birmingham either.

It would'nt make a great deal of difference if the car could travel at over 200 mph.

10123

March 14th, 2011, 11:30 PM

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4664/99033368.png
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4782/27914859.png
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/2664/45683489.png
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5232/92401289.png
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6592/30353258.png
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3667/32805160.png
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/7747/73413196.png
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4967/13292303.png

LoveTheCity

March 15th, 2011, 12:26 AM

Those are stunning... :drool:

Hope they come to fruition.

this_city

March 15th, 2011, 12:39 AM

Those are stunning... :drool:

Hope they come to fruition.

yeah, i really like the last image with the wall of glass looking out towards the lifting tower. that will be a great view once it's finished :)

di Livio

March 15th, 2011, 12:42 PM

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4664/99033368.png

Great pics. But as we know in Leeds, renders don't always equal quality developments.

10123

March 15th, 2011, 08:49 PM

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7016/websiteimages.jpg
http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/6653/64609426.jpg
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7863/36352321.jpg
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/2117/30218532.jpg

Some of the views to be expected
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/7918/leedsb.png

Val Verde

May 10th, 2011, 03:42 PM

aviator

May 12th, 2011, 10:12 AM

Noticed some work is going on at the former Leeds Central Station lifting tower. Is this finally being restored in advance of the Wellington Place works?

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/24/23/2242331_39219a77.jpg

According to the YEP, it's this:

Leeds landmark gets £15,000 facelift

By Sam Casey
Published on Thursday 12 May 2011

A £15,000 repair job has been launched to preserve a unique part of Leeds’s rail heritage. Stonemasons have been called in to restore the south face of the city’s last remaining wagon-lifting tower, left crumbling following one of the harshest winters on record.

It comes as Leeds Civic Trust prepares to install a blue plaque on the 160-year-old tower at Wellington Place, the site of the old city railway station. The plaque will mark the grade-two-listed building as one of 130 sites in Leeds designated as a point of specific historical interest.

Dominique Simcox, of Wellington Place developers MEPC, said: “Because of the harsh winter, it started to erode a little. We have asked a mason who specialises in listed buildings to repoint it and stop it from deteriorating further. We want to ensure the tower is safe and not left to crumble.”

Built in the 1850s, the tower was one of a pair that stood either side of the old viaduct running into the Leeds Central railway station. Steam power and giant chains were used to hoist huge wagons from the viaduct into the goods yard and back. Its twin was pulled down by accident despite its listed status following the station’s closure in 1967. The one left standing was saved when demolition work was delayed following an industrial accident.

Dr Kevin Grady, director of Leeds Civic Trust, said: “It’s remarkable that it has survived. It is one of the oldest surviving pieces of railway architecture in the city. We’re delighted it is in the hands of a developer that has a long-term interest in the future of the site.”

For several years there has been speculation the tower could be brought back into use, possibly as a restaurant. The blue plaque will read: “This steam-powered railway wagon hoist was one of a pair that stood on each side of the viaduct leading into the station. They raised and lowered wagons between the viaduct and the goods yard below. Built for the Lancashire and Yorkshire and the London and North Western Railways in the 1850s, the hoists remained in use until the 1950s.”

Leeds No.1

July 1st, 2011, 02:47 PM

Ideas for a park on the viaduct. I'd be much more open to having a park on this viaduct as opposed to the Holbeck viaduct.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/5838578953_994586361b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/5838579089_08ffabae61_b.jpg

LeedsLad

July 1st, 2011, 05:48 PM

I'd also love a mini park on top of this viaduct. Glad to see they are proposing a footbridge off the Western end so that the path goes somewhere too - should encourage more people up there.

Are these new pics or you just dug them out LN1?

Interesting to note that one of the proposed Latitude blocks is missing...

Also the area to the North of the Viaduct originally had plans for 3 blocks of flats - wonder if the green area shown is proposed to be permanent or temporary here...

Leeds No.1

July 1st, 2011, 06:20 PM

They are just ideas from Leeds Met Landscape students. I don't think any of them are serious.

Having said that, I have seen plans (and believe it is the plan) to turn that viaduct into a park. AFAIK, the other Latitude Block is planned. I wouldn't want to see the area to the NW of the viaduct turned into a park particularly.

Yorkshire Boy

July 21st, 2011, 11:03 AM

neptune16

August 23rd, 2011, 10:50 PM

A new promotional video from Wellington Place Leeds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8svD5j7cFk

10123

October 25th, 2011, 06:07 PM

Number 1 Wellington Place fully let

A Leeds office building based in Wellington Place business quarter is fully let following the take up of 4,190 square feet by professional services firm Towers Watson.

Number 2 Wellington Place features 120,000 square feet of Grade A office space across seven storeys and sits in one of eight business estates developed by MEPC. Towers Watson has expanded its Leeds’ footprint by taking up the remaining vacant space within the prominent building – it’s 170 staff members have been based at Number 1 Wellington Place since 2001.

Slav Sedlan, head of Towers Watson in Leeds said: “We’re very happy to be taking extra space at Wellington Place. Our location at Wellington Place means that we can attract the top talent in our industry, as this is a great environment to work in. Wellington Place is a lively and vibrant business community, one that ideally reflects our young and dynamic team while at the same time maintains the professionalism that our clients are looking for.”

The global firm, which helps organisations to improve their performance through risk and financial management, has doubled its employee numbers over the last ten years.

Managing director at MEPC, Andrew Barlow, said: “We are delighted to announce that Number 2 Wellington Place is now fully let. This is an exciting milestone for us, and a great demonstration of the continued confidence in Leeds. Towers Watson is an important customer of MEPC and we look forward to continuing our support for them.”

Other tenants at the building include RSM Tenon, Irwin Mitchell, office space provider Regus and BSkyB, which recently agreed to take 10,000 square feet of office space.

10123

October 25th, 2011, 06:08 PM

Could this signify a start in construction on the other phases of Wellington Place?

Val Verde

October 25th, 2011, 07:02 PM

Could this signify a start in construction on the other phases of Wellington Place?

Well I guess it is a case of wait and see considering I would presume some pre-lets would be needed first considering the nearby Latitude Red / Leeds No1 is still largely vacant and of course there is competition from other nearby developments taking an eon to develop such as Whitehall Riverside, City House and of course City Square House.

Still I guess the state of the overall economy would undoubtedly determine how much if any office development is to occur anytime in the near future.

Yorkshire Boy

October 25th, 2011, 10:46 PM

Good news! ...providing it's new office letting in the city rather than relocation within Leeds.

Still, I can't wait till Wellington Place really kicks off. Obviously the phased development is the most appropriate, but when it's complete I can see it becoming a great quarter for Leeds. Kinda like Spinningfields, but better! :)

Rob

August 3rd, 2012, 02:21 PM

A small update, a mod planning application raised this week: 12/9/00158/MOD

Outline application to layout access and erect mixed use multi level development up to 19 storeys, with offices, residential, hotel, shops, financial and professional services, restaurants and cafes, drinking establishments, hot food takeaways, cultural and community uses, basement car parking, associated landscaping and public space NON MATERIAL AMENDMENT to 06/06824/OT: Amend wording on Condition 52 to read 'The following off-site highway works shall be completed prior to the occupation of floorspace that would generate in excess of 917 morning and evening peak hour traffic movements (see definition of traffic movements in the first informative below). (i) Carriageway widening at the Whitehall Road/Northern Street junction and provision of pedestrian facilities across Northern Street to include details of new footway material on Northern Street, the details and extent of which shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.'

This relates to an earlier approved outline application: 06/06824/OT

Outline application to layout access and erect mixed use multi level development up to 19 storeys, with offices, residential, hotel, shops, financial and professional services, restaurants and cafes, drinking establishments, hot food takeaways, cultural and community uses, basement car parking, associated landscaping and public space.

Condition 52 had the above mentioned highway works to be complete by the earlier of either prior to occupation, or by 1 October 2009. This mod application is removing the 'or by 1 October 2009' part of condition.

Skychaser 2005

September 8th, 2012, 02:31 PM

http://www.mepc.com/resources/v1.3323/images/wellingtonplace/WellingtonAnim1.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/fvifc6.png

http://i45.tinypic.com/ei1b2a.png

http://i45.tinypic.com/zuhvdj.png

http://i50.tinypic.com/xqmja1.png

http://i49.tinypic.com/einxy1.png[/

Great to see the new images for WP on their website. This has got to get off the ground now as there are so many other new developments being proposed on Whitehall Road to really launch the new Leeds "West End" quarter

Yorkshire Boy

September 8th, 2012, 02:42 PM

:drool:

C'monnnnn, do it, build it nowwwhhh!!!!

u6ALySsPXt0

Aaronj09

September 8th, 2012, 03:33 PM

That 'masterplan' has been in the works for so long now, do they ever intend on building it?!

10123

September 8th, 2012, 05:38 PM

Stealing my cropped images! :horse:

Anyway the images above aren't new it's 'The masterplan' image that has been updated, it now shows the beach area more clearly. Along with a slightly changed colour scheme.

The brochures for 3,7,10 Wellington now include floor layouts and an updated colour scheme (Black & Pink).

Also of note, the development now contains residential. Along with a larger sq ft, previous MEPC estimates were at 2m sq ft, now it's 2.5m sq ft .

This begs the question whether the construction of Wellington Place is sooner rather than later. Residential developments don't -necessarily- require a pre-let and are usually built speculative with purchases happening around construction.

Skychaser 2005

September 8th, 2012, 07:39 PM

[=10123;94912114]Stealing my cropped images! :horse:

Sorry 10123, but I thought they should be displayed on this thread and not just on citytalk.

mike okane

September 8th, 2012, 11:38 PM

yeah quality scheme this, looks like they haven't dumbed down the original proposals in any major way.
Re. that old lifting tower, it would make a great plinth for the Duke of Wellington statue (frequently vandalised on Woodhouse Moor). It would give the area a bit of history, as it's Wellington Place after all on the site of Wellington station.
he was of course a rr8 bastard though, allegedly
:)

Val Verde

September 9th, 2012, 05:37 PM

Great to see the new images for WP on their website. This has got to get off the ground now as there are so many other new developments being proposed on Whitehall Road to really launch the new Leeds "West End" quarter

Well il only believe it when I see it considering Wellington Place has been proposed for such a long time without any works getting off the ground and it says a lot how this key development site has been so incredibly slow in getting off the ground when I believe construction first started on this way back in the late 1990s with the Price Waterhouse Coopers building and NCP car park.

Shiny_Dave

September 21st, 2012, 07:18 PM

Reference 12/9/00188/MOD
Address 10 Wellington Place Leeds LS1 4AP
Proposal 5 storey office block, with landscaping NON MATERIAL AMENDMENT to 10/02973/RM: Introduction of 4 ground floor parking bays; integration of ventilation louvres to the northern facade of the building; minor adjustments to the internal arrangement; minor adjustments to the elevation fenestration; external canopy introduced on northern facade
Status Pending Consideration
Appeal Status No data

plandocs (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=MALINPJB0FQ00)

Skychaser 2005

September 21st, 2012, 10:50 PM

....the new applications are coming in thick and fast. So good to see Leeds planning dept having such an increase in applications. Got to be really positive signs that Leeds is really on the up

Yorkshire Boy

September 21st, 2012, 11:48 PM

Was that new application all that major though? I can't speak planning jargon - can someone spell it out in English (or at least Yorkshire!)

Aaronj09

September 22nd, 2012, 12:00 AM

5 storey office block.. hardly major.

Leeds No.1

September 22nd, 2012, 12:13 AM

Well, they do demonstrate a level of interest in investing. Submitting a planning application still requires some time and money, even if it is minimal. Clearly anything coming to fruition could be years off, if ever, but we have to start somewhere.

Trinity and the Arena seem to be laying a strong foundation of confidence in the city, and Leeds is looking like it will recover well- even if not all of these proposals are delivered.

Shiny_Dave

September 22nd, 2012, 11:48 AM

Was that new application all that major though? I can't speak planning jargon - can someone spell it out in English (or at least Yorkshire!)

It's an amendment to an existing application. It may suggest they have somone lined up and thye are tailoring the build to their requirements.

Accountants PwC and law firms Walker Morris, Squire Sanders, DAC Beachcroft and Shulmans have issued requirements for office space in Leeds as they approach the end of leases. The area containing Whitehall Riverside, Wellington Place and No 1 Leeds has been dubbed the new West End of Leeds, to the West of the established professional quarter.

yep (http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/business-news/business-headlines/town-centre-securities-is-in-talks-with-potential-office-tenants-at-its-whitehall-riverside-site-1-4923543)

Shiny_Dave

September 27th, 2012, 09:16 PM

Personal mission to develop site as city’s five-star urban quarter
Published on Thursday 27 September 2012 09:36

RICK de Blaby, the chief executive of property company MEPC, feels very strongly about Wellington Place.

He took control of the site in 2007 and secured planning permission for a major mixed use development on the largest site under single ownership in Leeds.

“This has been my baby right from the outset,” he told the Yorkshire Post. “All of this is intensely personal.

“I was adamant that when we had to produce a scheme that we created a great place.

“It’s easy in our world to look at things wholly in real estate eyes, but actually people like living and working in great places and great communities.

“If Wellington Place is going to be a successful long-term investment for us, it has to be the five-star urban quarter for the city.

“That’s absolutely our vision and we aim to get there.”

He is in talks with “six or seven” prospective occupiers for Wellington Place, which may or may not include the professional services firms in Leeds known to have issued requirements for new office space.

They include accountants PwC and law firms Walker Morris, Squire Sanders, DAC Beachcroft and Shulmans.

He is in competition for their covenants with rival sites Whitehall Plaza, City Square, Broadgate and Sovereign Square, where KPMG has committed to a pre-let development.

MEPC owns, manages and develops property at eight sites across the UK and has assets worth £700m. It sold Granta science park in Cambridge in June for around £127m.

Mr de Blaby said: “We have quite a lot of cash in the business. Part of the reason for doing that was to have available money to carry out development programmes within the estate, the most demanding of which is Leeds in terms of capital.

“This is where we have our most ambitious development plans.”

The message today is that he is working hard to be “shovel ready” by the end of the year; MEPC is going out to tender in the next couple of weeks to find a contractor.

“I have not definitely said I’m going to build it,” he said. “But it’s likely.”

Asked how much he paid for the site, he said: “I can’t remember and would prefer to forget.”

The company shelved its plans for Wellington Place following the financial crisis. But a series of new requirements for office space in the city could kick-start development with a total investment value exceeding £100m.

Mr de Blaby said: “These lease events are a big deal for Leeds. If you look at 2014, 2015, 2016, there are quite a lot coming through with nobody adding to supply in the city.

“That produces some exciting market dynamics. That’s absolutely underpinning our confidence in Wellington Place and why we have put ourselves in a position to have cash available to underpin the scheme we want to do here.”

MEPC did a fundraising in 2011 and has “conservative” levels of debt at around £300m with a loan to value on the estate of sub-40 per cent. Wellington Place is held in equity.

Mr de Blaby added: “A fact of life is that outside central London raising any sort of debt to undertake development is pretty difficult, bordering on impossible.

“It’s a two-edged sword from our point of view. It restricts our ability to raise funds. But we think it restricts our competitors for more than it does us.

“In that sense we have got a potential edge in being able to turn out new buildings like those we are proposing at Wellington Place when others cannot.”

Within the Wellington Place masterplan, Mr de Blaby said work could start soon on three office buildings. The biggest building, 4 Wellington Place, has been designed for one specific occupier and “discussions are ongoing”.

MEPC decided against “shutting the gates” back in 2008 and chose instead to develop the land for community purposes with football pitches and allotments and music festivals.

The exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama visited in the summer when he appeared at the Yorkshire International Business Convention.

Jeff Pearey, letting agent at Jones Lang LaSalle, said: “It’s given the location a focus within the business community. It’s all too easy to turn a development site into a car park and just leave it mothballed.”

Mr de Blaby sees the development of the public realm as part of “a journey to make a great place” at Wellington Place.

CEO at MEPC since 2005, he travels the UK and sees what Leeds is competing against for investment.

He sees the potential in the city with the arrival of Leeds Arena and Trinity Leeds, and believes that the city council is “in a much better place than it was”.

Town Centre in riverside talks

RIVAL property company Town Centre Securities revealed earlier this month that it is in talks with potential office tenants for its Whitehall Riverside site.

The former industrial area is seeing increasing activity.

Town Centre’s chief executive Edward Ziff said: “We are in talks with one or two professional services firms. If we could find the right deals we would start development at Whitehall Riverside.”

KPMG is the prime mover in the pre-let market after agreeing to become anchor tenant of the Sovereign Square development.

yep (http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/personal-mission-to-develop-site-as-city-s-five-star-urban-quarter-1-4966416)