Sweet Street

The original proposal for this hotel, casino and residential complex put the tower element at *22 storeys. However, a recent planning application (November 2004) now suggests that the tower will stand at 40 storeys.

The increase in height is unsuprising given the recent trend for high rise proposals in the city centre.

* The images below show the original 22 storey scheme.

Data

No. of floors - 40
Height -
Building type - Hotel, residential & casino
Year of construction -
Architect -
Location -

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/sweet1.jpg

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/sweet2.jpg

There may also be a revolving restaurant at the top, says YPN

There may also be a revolving restaurant at the top, says YPN
I read that on these boards before they got hacked. It'll be an amazing view from your dining table to be able to see for miles - things like the Yorkshire Dales, York Minster etc, all from a table in Leeds.

There may also be a revolving restaurant at the top, says YPN
And this might well suggest a circular tower to add variation to the skyline. And the fact that this development project will be worth around £300 million (some say up to £500 million), shows it'll be a very big project and will help immensely in the regeneration of that part of Leeds, and what a sight awaits for those just getting off the M1.

Yes I think about £500m, particularly by the time its built when I expect everything to be more expensive and worth more. I thought it might suggest a circular tower too, or maybe it might be a similar shape to the original design but with the top part a restaurant.

Remembers the plans have been panned by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) which was reported in Estates Gazette a month or two back. Basically said it was monolithic and not conducive to pedestrians or public space. Not that makes much of a difference, but a shame we've not seen any renders of the newly designed scheme to try and make our own minds up.

Yes it is a shame- hehe wouldnt it be nice if we didnt know about a skyscraper and then one day we randomly saw some cranes and some cores start to go up, what a nice suprise lol.

Hey hey hey - fresh from the Holbeck Urban Village website..... looks like we're about to get cracking on this one. So its a 37 storey tower, but sadly the press release doesn't mention a start date. Sounds huge though. The central plaza also sounds excellent, along with the central bit of the Wellington Place development, the city will be getting quite a bit more outdoor social space.

Major regeneration proposal from Jan Fletcher Properties

MAJOR REGENERATION STARTS FOR SOUTH LEEDS

10th August 2005

City One, the £500m prestigious mixed-used development, has been newly master-planned in line with Leeds City Council’s vision for a spectacular, boulevard gateway entrance from the M1 and M62 motorways into the city centre. It will be based around a central plaza, forming a green oasis the size of a football pitch in the heart of the city. This will be one of the key 12 public parks of Leeds and is part of the Council’s strategy to become one of the major European cities.

A 37-storey residential tower will mark the entrance to the city. Its top floor will feature Leeds first panoramic restaurant and a rooftop observatory. City One’s tower will form part of a sharp and iconic skyline across Leeds - along with the proposed towers of Bridgewater Place, Criterion Place and Leeds University.

The southern entrance to the city will be transformed into a visionary destination where people can work, rest, eat and play. The regenerated area will create up to 10,000 jobs and City One will form a central part in connecting the regenerated areas of Holbeck Urban Village and beyond, into the city centre through walkways.

Since City One gained outline planning permission at the end of 2003, further land has been acquired for the site. This has enabled revised plans to create a more spectacular entrance and skyline for the city’s gateway as well as creating public open spaces with more restaurants, services and retail units.

The new plans for the 1,600,000 sq ft development, which is just seven minutes walk from Leeds City station, include 700 residential apartments, 600,000 sq ft of top specification office space, restaurants, retail units, medical centre, children’s crèche, art galleries and a hotel, casino and leisure complex with conference and entertainment facilities for 1,000 people, all based around a stunning, central plaza.

The office space will be the north’s largest single office site so near to a city station. Plans are for three high spec office blocks which can be let individually or linked to form a single site unit.

Jan Fletcher OBE – chairman of investment and international development group, Jan Fletcher Properties, and one of the UK’s top entrepreneurs – said: "City One will be the north’s most exciting and glamorous place to live and work in. Although it is a city centre location, it is also an area that Leeds City Council has targeted for regeneration and we are delighted to be working with them and helping to create up to 10,000 jobs.

"City One will have the ingredients to make 24 hour living a reality – late night newsagents and delis, a crèche, services such as dry cleaners, medical and postal services as well as restaurants, entertainment and coffee shops."

"This is generally seen as a flagship project for Leeds, helping the economic growth of the city and creating a spectacular and vibrant entrance for the south side of Leeds. It will really excite people and position Leeds as a major European city as they drive in from the motorways."

According to Fletcher, there has been considerable interest in the site from all corners of the globe: "Leeds has definitely been ear-marked by international groups as a city they want to be in. We have the north’s largest single city office site available and are in discussions with corporates who are keen to relocate and have a focal presence in the city."

Ends

For further information contact:

Victoria Tomlinson, Northern Lights PR 01423 562400

Notes to editors

Jan Fletcher Properties
Jan Fletcher Properties is a major investment and international development group specialising in regeneration sites to mixed and office use. It currently has more than a dozen sites in various stages of development across the north of England and abroad.

Jan Fletcher OBE
Jan Fletcher OBE is an international businesswoman with a substantial portfolio of business interests including international property investment and development, natural health products, motor retailing and accident repair centres, pharmaceuticals and restaurants. She was non-executive director of the Skipton Building Society for ten years.

In 1994 Jan was named the Veuve Clicquot British Business Woman of the Year and in 1995 was voted Yorkshire Woman of the Year. In 1997 she was awarded an OBE for services to industry and in 1999 was named one of Britain’s Top Entrepreneurs.

this is from the Northern Lights website and mentioned 'luxury hotel chains' etc. Not much to go on, but there is a phone number which might be worth an enquiry regarding the development.


Northern Lights has worked with Jan Fletcher OBE since 1995. One of the UK's top entrepreneurs and Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, recent briefs have been to minimise publicity and maximise Jan's time for her wide range of businesses.

Jan's latest venture, City One, one of the north's largest city centre developments was bound to create media interest. Jan asked NL to anticipate and manage this interest, but also support her work at international levels with developers, financiers and hoteliers.

Worked in a close team with Jan, architect, development planner and letting agent, anticipating every question and producing fact files on these. Focused on key selling points of site

Organised day's photo shoot to have exclusive photos for a range of media

Agreed exclusive feature with the Sunday Times. On the Sunday it appeared, sent out releases and photos to all relevant media

With minimal interview time, produced major coverage. Generated further enquiries from international luxury hotel chain, leisure operators and leading property developers interested in joint ventures.

I must say, it sounds an excellent plan, I hope it goes ahead asap. If it is a core of the councils strategy, should that mean it will get planning permission and the go ahead as soon as it can? The Piazza sounds good and so does the phrase 'tree line boulevard'. I hope there are some green areas incorporated into other projects to compliment this, I noticed even more so the lack of green space in the city centre. Panoramic restaurant! cool- bet it will be expensive though!

Looks like this project could be moving forward before many of the others.

Sounds fantastic- a city within a city.

Can't wait to see new renderings

Hey hey hey - fresh from the Holbeck Urban Village website..... looks like we're about to get cracking on this one. So its a 37 storey tower, but sadly the press release doesn't mention a start date. Sounds huge though. The central plaza also sounds excellent, along with the central bit of the Wellington Place development, the city will be getting quite a bit more outdoor social space.

Major regeneration proposal from Jan Fletcher Properties

MAJOR REGENERATION STARTS FOR SOUTH LEEDS

10th August 2005

City One, the £500m prestigious mixed-used development, has been newly master-planned in line with Leeds City Council’s vision for a spectacular, boulevard gateway entrance from the M1 and M62 motorways into the city centre. It will be based around a central plaza, forming a green oasis the size of a football pitch in the heart of the city. This will be one of the key 12 public parks of Leeds and is part of the Council’s strategy to become one of the major European cities.

A 37-storey residential tower will mark the entrance to the city. Its top floor will feature Leeds first panoramic restaurant and a rooftop observatory. City One’s tower will form part of a sharp and iconic skyline across Leeds - along with the proposed towers of Bridgewater Place, Criterion Place and Leeds University.

The southern entrance to the city will be transformed into a visionary destination where people can work, rest, eat and play. The regenerated area will create up to 10,000 jobs and City One will form a central part in connecting the regenerated areas of Holbeck Urban Village and beyond, into the city centre through walkways.

Since City One gained outline planning permission at the end of 2003, further land has been acquired for the site. This has enabled revised plans to create a more spectacular entrance and skyline for the city’s gateway as well as creating public open spaces with more restaurants, services and retail units.

The new plans for the 1,600,000 sq ft development, which is just seven minutes walk from Leeds City station, include 700 residential apartments, 600,000 sq ft of top specification office space, restaurants, retail units, medical centre, children’s crèche, art galleries and a hotel, casino and leisure complex with conference and entertainment facilities for 1,000 people, all based around a stunning, central plaza.

The office space will be the north’s largest single office site so near to a city station. Plans are for three high spec office blocks which can be let individually or linked to form a single site unit.

Jan Fletcher OBE – chairman of investment and international development group, Jan Fletcher Properties, and one of the UK’s top entrepreneurs – said: "City One will be the north’s most exciting and glamorous place to live and work in. Although it is a city centre location, it is also an area that Leeds City Council has targeted for regeneration and we are delighted to be working with them and helping to create up to 10,000 jobs.

"City One will have the ingredients to make 24 hour living a reality – late night newsagents and delis, a crèche, services such as dry cleaners, medical and postal services as well as restaurants, entertainment and coffee shops."

"This is generally seen as a flagship project for Leeds, helping the economic growth of the city and creating a spectacular and vibrant entrance for the south side of Leeds. It will really excite people and position Leeds as a major European city as they drive in from the motorways."

According to Fletcher, there has been considerable interest in the site from all corners of the globe: "Leeds has definitely been ear-marked by international groups as a city they want to be in. We have the north’s largest single city office site available and are in discussions with corporates who are keen to relocate and have a focal presence in the city."

Ends

For further information contact:

Victoria Tomlinson, Northern Lights PR 01423 562400

Notes to editors

Jan Fletcher Properties
Jan Fletcher Properties is a major investment and international development group specialising in regeneration sites to mixed and office use. It currently has more than a dozen sites in various stages of development across the north of England and abroad.

Jan Fletcher OBE
Jan Fletcher OBE is an international businesswoman with a substantial portfolio of business interests including international property investment and development, natural health products, motor retailing and accident repair centres, pharmaceuticals and restaurants. She was non-executive director of the Skipton Building Society for ten years.

In 1994 Jan was named the Veuve Clicquot British Business Woman of the Year and in 1995 was voted Yorkshire Woman of the Year. In 1997 she was awarded an OBE for services to industry and in 1999 was named one of Britain’s Top Entrepreneurs.
Yet on the planning application submitted it said 40 storeys. I suppose its one of these things where nobody can agree on how many stories it will have.

Yet on the planning application submitted it said 40 storeys. I suppose its one of these things where nobody can agree on how many stories it will have.

Was that not an outline application though?

Was that not an outline application though?
I think it was. But we'll see how many stories it is from the renders, as even the Press or press releases on other websites don't always get it right. But still, 37 or 40 stories is quite impressive.

I think it is more likeley to have 37 storeys, maybe not. Is it on a bit of a hill? Or maybe 40 includes underground levels.

Well the outline application would have been to test the water for a roundabout figure. The latest news is very specific so I would accept 37 storeys, should be at least 110m.

A viewing platform - excellent.

I would expect it would be a bit taller than 110m. Isnt BWP about 110m residential 32 storeys, so City One residential 37 storeys- 120m maybe- depends how big the restaurant is I guess. There will be a viewing platform at the top of CP2 apparently. I would expect there will be viewing platforms at the top of many other towers too.

Yes I expect it to be a bit taller than 110m too.(at least)

Wouldn't use BWP as a guide, the bottom 10 floors are office, which makes it about 10m taller than if it were all resi.

Does the office section require a pre-let? That is quite a bit:

''600,000 sq ft of top specification office''

Looking at the facilities that will be in it, it is likeley some of the non residential facilities will be at the base of the tower, possibly an office element. I just cant see a ground floor apartment- the ground floor should be used to attract people into it, instead of wasted by residential space. The lower floors of this development would make quite a good shopping centre...

All very good to get more information on this impressive scheme, but no hint of a suggestion of when.

I guess this shows that the council aren't too worried by cabes suggestion and are definately backing it... this could be a very interesting development for leeds, just need to find out when halfords are vacating to get an idea of timeframes :)

I hope it's within the next 12 months!

As far as I'm aware, this is the City One site, so perhaps we're going to get a little information regarding office space / commercial facilities / residential elements for City One. Still an annoying lack of info on this mammoth project.

Application 20/449/05/SI
Received on 12/09/2005
Description
3 internally illuminated free standing hoardings to development site
Location
MEADOW ROAD AND JACK LANE LEEDS 2986-3235 LS11 9BX
Library

Decision Permission Granted Decision Date 26/10/2005
Add to my list

Large projects seem to keep quiet obviousy a trend. I'm not sure if its anything to get excited about as CPs hoardings have been up for ages, even though these are illuminated :)

Pretty sure as i drove past today they were actually putting the hoardings up.

Pretty sure as i drove past today they were actually putting the hoardings up.

I also saw something happening with hoardings late last week but went past part of the site yesterday and couldn't see anything??

As far as I'm aware, this is the City One site, so perhaps we're going to get a little information regarding office space / commercial facilities / residential elements for City One. Still an annoying lack of info on this mammoth project.

Application 20/449/05/SI
Received on 12/09/2005
Description
3 internally illuminated free standing hoardings to development site
Location
MEADOW ROAD AND JACK LANE LEEDS 2986-3235 LS11 9BX
Library

Decision Permission Granted Decision Date 26/10/2005
Add to my list


These are for some billboards they have just put up on the site, but they are also surrounding the site with wooden hoardings.

Halfords is still open though!!

Went past today (about an hour ago) and definately looked like the frame for hoardings being put up. It obviously doesn't mean anything firm yet, but is perhaps another small step forward.

Went past today (about an hour ago) and definately looked like the frame for hoardings being put up. It obviously doesn't mean anything firm yet, but is perhaps another small step forward.

Walked past it this am. Nothing is happening. Most windows boarded up and some wooden fencing - but that's all.

On nearby Manor Road, just beyond Velocity, there are two adjacent largish sites of interest. On the first demolition is taking place and will soon be completed. This site has been seeking planning permission (which it must now have) for 720 flats and offices etc. With that large number of apartments it must be a high rise though no news yet. The other site has been cleared and is currently being used as a car park.

These are for some billboards they have just put up on the site, but they are also surrounding the site with wooden hoardings.

Halfords is still open though!!

when is halfords movin??

hope this project goes ahead ;D

Don't know if I'm making a huge leap here, but this article was highlighted in Property Week, and as I remember, CABE were very much against the plans for City One, could this be a continued battle against Jan Fletcher? All gone very quiet - suggests people raging against the plan and Fletcher being delayed.

Last-ditch bid to stop Leeds plans

Building Design | 31 March, 2006
CZWG ‘staggeringly insensitive'

No mention of what this could be on the CZWG website either. Any ideas?

CZWG (http://www.czwgarchitects.co.uk/index2.html)

CABE might be against it (why?) but I think there are more people for it. There are not many disadvantages to the scheme other than the usual ones. I think it will be quiet for a bit then suddenly get going in the same way other projects have done. I do think this will get built eventually though...

CABE are against virtually everything ! That's about it really.

Interesting to see from the HUV website this is being marketed: http://harveyburns.com/page.asp?view=currentInstructions

construction news says the planning has been submitted.

Just seen the planning decisions list from last week: approval given for this development...upto 40 storeys! Perhaps we'll see some action soon?

The first bit of good news for a while! If there are no more problems we could expect a start for around March/April 2007? Realistically probably much later but well! As a guesstimation.

so whats the height on the building

It's only an outline application for phased development. However, this year's council business brochure mentions the first phases being available in the not too distant future so there is hope of some action some time soon.

this is at least some good news at long last, been to long in gettin this important project off the ground

to be honest i liked the original design very jetsons thought with the tower this would have been a great development.

wonder what the new revised design will be. I would hope a high profile architect would be used for this development in a pwefect world frank gherey or mr foster would make my year!!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Well it is good to see a decent culmination to the development along the western side of the Sweet Street corridor and I hope a decent architect is employed to do this development at such a prominent site which will provide many peoples first impression of Leeds as they come off the M621. Didn't like the original plans personally except for the tower part as it looked rather boxy and bland however the tower seemed ok with curves and spike giving some variety to that design but hopeing for something better for such a deserving location and was the original scheme Carey Jones designed? Any news on what is to occupy this development (which I guess is mixed use) and wasn't there plans for a top floor restaurant on here?

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/sweet1.jpg

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/sweet2.jpg

Thought it was designed by Jan Fletcher... I dont think Carey Jones have had any involvement in it..

I quite liked it to being with; probably now that times have changed it would be nice to see something different; 40 storeys will make an impression on the skyline so should be of high quality. It was mixed use with a large open space wasnt it? Shops and offices lower down, apartments further up... typical set up...

It was proposed by local entrepenuer Jan Fletcher. The scheme is to include 700 flats, a hotel, a casino, bars, shops, street cafes, a multi-storey car park, and will include a newly designed tower with the possibility of a top floor restaurant.This huge proposal also includes a public square and courtyards, with water features and public art.

A 40 storey standard box tower will be great in this location, but a 40 storey tower design as iconic and imaginative as the original scheme by a renowned architect could be world class.

Also I believe the above picture is of an earlier 22 storey proposal?... Anyone gotta map of where this will be in realtion to the city centre?

Has there been any more news about this and is this really Aprooved becaouse it doesn't show as being aproved on Skyscraper news. If this has been aproved would a start in summer 2007 be possible, this would be great with La Lumiere and the possibillity of Criterean Place going up in 2007 would be great.

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/sweet1.jpg

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/sweet2.jpg

They look like something from Flash Gordon, the old black and White serial at that, Please build them!

Can't see where you get 40 Storeys from the renders though....

These renders are actually of a 22 story building but they desided to increase it to 40 stories but there are no renders of the 40 story building yet.

They look like something from Flash Gordon, the old black and White serial at that, Please build them!

Can't see where you get 40 Storeys from the renders though....

those images are yee ages old. I remember commenting about 3 years ago that they looked like something from the Jetsons cartoon. Back to the drawing board. Whatever we see on this site, won't look a thing like that. Which clearly isn't a bad thing. They have been massively secretive with the designs for City 1. To me the biggest issue is that Jan Fletcher is a local entrepreneur who cut her teeth with car dealerships. To pull off such a huge property scheme requires clear expertise and nouse in the commercial property market, and I think the delays and lack of clear coherant strategy with regard to this scheme may be evidence of this. If it goes ahead - great, but I'm not filled with huge amounts of confidence, not least because of the real 'fringe' nature of the site.

.....To me the biggest issue is that Jan Fletcher is a local entrepreneur who cut her teeth with car dealerships. To pull off such a huge property scheme requires clear expertise and nouse in the commercial property market, and I think the delays and lack of clear coherant strategy with regard to this scheme may be evidence of this. If it goes ahead - great, but I'm not filled with huge amounts of confidence, not least because of the real 'fringe' nature of the site.

I suspect that part of the delay is accounted for by the fact that Jan Fletcher's been testing the water with the proposals for this site, in terms of the amount of development they could get onto the site. It's also nowhere near as "fringe" to the city centre as it was when the idea first saw the light of day. For example, next January will see around 600 civil servants moving in across the road as Government Office and various agencies move to Lateral on Sweet Street.

There have been some fairly contentious planning and design issues that CABE have been involved with (their website provides the detail) which presumably slowed things down. As for who Jan Fletcher has on board with a property background, I've no idea. But people are aware that this scheme received outline planning permission a couple of weeks ago (up to 40 storeys, 450 flats, offices, multi-storey car park, etc). The applicant was Montpelier Estates.

It is slightly fringe of the city centre core, but critically straight off J3 of the M621 and arguably 'the' gateway into the city. It would seem like there is plenty of 'willing' on behalf of Ms Fletcher to get this scheme going probably in phases, it may just take some time, for the reasons Jimbo mentions above.

Perhaps she should go to the 'Dragons Den' and try to get £80m or so from Theo, Peter, Duncan and the rest. I'm sure she could persuade them.

Montpelier Estates is Jan Fletcher's company. The scheme did get one hell of a rough time from CABE but outline planning was granted. The big challenge is getting over the CABE comments when they bring each individual building before the committee to discharge the detailed consent.

Because CABE gave it such a rough time I think the planners will want the whole scheme to be designed in detail and taken back to CABE for 'sign off' before they will have the confidence to approve it.

The scheme has been bank rolled by the 'Isle of Capri' casino so far but funding has dried up whilst the big casino debate rolls on in parliament.

They also have major objections from Transco as a high pressure gas main runs adjacent to the site and YEDL are struggling to provide the electrical infrastructure to the site.

All that said 600 civil servant adjacent to the site could provide the incentive required.

"they looked like something from the Jetsons cartoon" - exactly what was thinking..is this site where the current halfords is located as you enter city from 621..?

Yup this site is where Halfords is and where there used to be a Peugeot and Citroen garage just off junction 3 of the M621 (formerly junction 47 of the M1). In terms of Gateway sites this would surely be up there with the most high profile although I would want something of Grade A* quality which I personally believe the previous 22 storey plans don't have.

any news any one.

Zilch at the moment as it has for the last five years or however long its been since this thing was annouced. Wonder what the point of announcing this is if nothing is happening at all. Made a picture when bored once of how the existing plans would look if 40 stories though:

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4523/sweetstreetfm6.jpg

Hope if ever this does get off the ground I hope they would use decent architects perhaps Fosters or Rogers to finally have a scheme in Leeds as the present plans are of a mediocre standard in my opinion. Why is a car dealer been an architect anyway or is Carey Jones behind this scheme?

any news any one.

nope, believe me, you'd know because we'd be all rumbling about it on here. I really don't think that this will go ahead in its current form.

Val Verde, I'm worried, that colour scheme makes it look, ermmm, well. Best left there.

Was one of my favourites this too - mainly for it's height relative to it's location. Would have shown real confidence in the area.

Id say that if it comes up again, I can guarantee a completely new design will be in place.

Interesting (and slightly exciting) snippet from the Dec 06 Leeds Economy Bulletin:
Montpelier Estates has received outline planning permission
for the City One development at Sweet Street.The 40-storey
development includes 450 flats, offices, hotel and casino.
http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/2006/week51/inter__8B238030578723EB80256E000036F680_f20f841b-809c-41b3-a0ff-1d76e6e895fb.pdf

When they say 'outline planning permission' what does that mean? Does it mean that it is approved or that there is anouther satge or something else to do before full approval?

Interesting (and slightly exciting) snippet from the Dec 06 Leeds Economy Bulletin:
Montpelier Estates has received outline planning permission
for the City One development at Sweet Street.The 40-storey
development includes 450 flats, offices, hotel and casino.
http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/2006/week51/inter__8B238030578723EB80256E000036F680_f20f841b-809c-41b3-a0ff-1d76e6e895fb.pdf

quite - still need to submit the full planning application then. outline is essentially agreement with the principles and concepts (e.g. height, massing, public space provision).

I'm still not convinced by Jan Fletcher on this one, that said, if they are moving forward, it gives more impetus to Holbeck Urban Village.

Atleast this is moving forword and it wouldn't be unreal for this to start in 2008 and 2009. this could be a great build.

Has this turned into this? Or is this another large development on Sweet street with a 20 storey tower?

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u85/jinky-org/ssc.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u85/jinky-org/ssc2.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u85/jinky-org/ssc3.jpg

Spectrum is the development in the south corner of Holbeck Urban Village between Manor Road and Sweet Street owned by Dandara.

The revised planning application has now received outline planning approval subject to resolving section 106 agreements on the housing element of the scheme. The plans include the erection of three new buildings. The design of the buildings aim to use as many natural materials as possible including reclaimed timber and metal.

The plans for the site comprise 8,407 sq ft of business office space and 9,912 sq ft of amenity retail space or financial and professional services space such as banks or space for restaurants / bars/ hot food take-away uses on the lower two floors of the building.

Dandara's development off Manor Road and Sweet Street has received outline planning approval subject to their affordable housing contribution.
The proposals include 788 apartments on the upper floors of this mixed use development. There are to be six buildings in total three of which will be new as part of the redevelopment of the site. The total residential space is expected to include 788 apartments consisting of 112 studio flats, 401 one-bedroom apartments and 275 two-bedroom apartments.

Buildings A,B and C will be located on the northern site bounded by Manor Road, a new linked section of Ingram Street provided by the building of this scheme, Ingram Row and a footpath to the north of St Barnabus Road. Building A will consist of 20 storeys the top18 of which are to be residential. These ar expected to be clad in grey aluminium with rain screen panels and glazed balconies, some of which may be coloured.

Building B is proposed as 11 storeys nine of which are to be residential with ground and first floor retail taking the remainder of the space. Design proposals for this building are timber cladding to the north and west façades and the south façade would feature glazed balconies.

Building C is set as nine storeys seven of which are to be residential space with ground and first floor ameneties.This building will front onto Manor Road at which point it steps down to six storeys four of which are for residential use with the botton two floors used for commercial units where the building meets Building B. Again design feature aluminium rain screen and glazed balconies.

Buildings D,E and F occupy the south face of this site touching Sweet Street, Ingram Street, Ingram Row and St Barnabus Road. Building D wil be six storeys the bottom two of which is commercial use and the top four residential featuring timber cladding and glazed coloured panels. Building E is proposed at nine storeys, seven residential and two commercial in the same format as before. Building F has ten floors eight of which are for residential and the same split as before.

Has this turned into this? Or is this another large development on Sweet street with a 20 storey tower?


This is a separate project. I don't think any images of the 40 storey tower scheme has been issued.

I hope that doesnt get the go ahead, it is horrible.

Well whatever that thing is i posted above whether it be a replacement for the old scheme or another project along Sweet street, a) Sweet street will feel enormously dense in a few years and b) i think this scheme is quite nice, i do tend to like cream, brown and greyish black in a lot of things, im thinking of doing one of the rooms in my house those colours, they go really well together and look very classy in my opinion and i think that the project above looks rather smart and very dense and in fact is quite a favourite of mine. I think the frontage looking onto the road looks like a proper city streetscape sort of like you see in Japan, that kind of mesh of thin tallish apartements, thinks its ace, obviously all things on this site are subjective though.

I can't tell if you are joking. I am only going on that render but it is an absolute discrace. IT looks like somethign built in the USSR that they would have been ashamed of. I just can't see any artistic merit. Just some slabs, one of which looks like WRH

Has this turned into this? Or is this another large development on Sweet street with a 20 storey tower?


this is all documented in the Holbeck Urban Village thread. Dandara are Manchester based developers who are now the co-developers of Criteron Place with Simons Estates.

City One (local entrepreneur Jan Fletcher's scheme) is the rumoured 40 storey tower, but is about as likely to proceed as I am to drop kick England to victory in the next World Cup final.

Link found by Philbee on Arena Thread

http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=39&storycode=3078038


A bit of info about the delay.....


'The £500m City One scheme has outline planning consent for 1.6m sq ft (148,643 sq m), which includes 600,000 sq ft (55,741 sq m) of offices alongside a 21-storey, 307-bedroom hotel, a casino, conference centre, health club and 450 flats.

More than 20 years after the scheme was first conceived, Fletcher is masterplanning the site again to increase its capacity to 2m sq ft (185,404 sq m), having bought a further 24 acres (9.7 ha) of land to bring the total size of the site to 34 acres (14 ha). The new masterplan aims to connect Holbeck and Beeston to Holbeck Urban Village.'

20 years!!!! Is that a typo or is that how long it has taken to develop this scheme. That really is a long time to develop this scheme and how come has it taken such an incredibly long time as I thought they have only planned this since about the start of this decade and not as far back in time as an era when mullets and perms were in fashion and before my dad bought a Citroen BX from that now closed Fletchers dealership! Have any renders ever been released of these early schemes? I thought it was just taking on that former car showroom site or is it now taking on a much wider area with the very good idea to connect Beeston and Holbeck with HUV and the bottom end of the city centre.

34 acres is a large site, considering lumiere will be built on just less than an acre.

20 years could refer to her dream rather than any actual plan for the site.

34 acres is a large site, considering lumiere will be built on just less than an acre.

20 years could refer to her dream rather than any actual plan for the site.

She has owned the land for 25 years... !

I can't tell if you are joking. I am only going on that render but it is an absolute discrace. IT looks like somethign built in the USSR that they would have been ashamed of. I just can't see any artistic merit. Just some slabs, one of which looks like WRH

I actually thought it was WRH until I looked closer. I wasn't even aware of this project until now and from looking at the recent renders it doesn't really flick my switch. It's far to bland. It's all very well with these new apartments blocks being built but some seem to be of such poor quality that they could end up being the tower blocks of the future.

I actually thought it was WRH until I looked closer. I wasn't even aware of this project until now and from looking at the recent renders it doesn't really flick my switch. It's far to bland. It's all very well with these new apartments blocks being built but some seem to be of such poor quality that they could end up being the tower blocks of the future.

This was what is/was actually proposed for the site.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38478000/jpg/_38478725_cityone300.jpg

This was what is/was actually proposed for the site.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38478000/jpg/_38478725_cityone300.jpg

I think that must be the old proposal, looks very dated.

Can anyone tell me or preferably show me on a map where abouts this is supposed to be because Sweet street is being linked with a lot of projects now and i can't think where each one is.

Can anyone tell me or preferably show me on a map where abouts this is supposed to be because Sweet street is being linked with a lot of projects now and i can't think where each one is.

Here you go just made it now it I believe is the area highlighted in blue to the west of the gyratory for Junction 3 of the M621:

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/3479/cityonesitemapet0.jpg

As you can see on the map it takes up what was used for a Peugeot and Citroen dealers as well as a branch of Halfords and it does take up a relatively large area. However what I don't know is how much land is earmarked for this scheme is it what I have highlighted or is a much larger area part of the City One development then this. Also why hasn't Flecter done this development in phases which if that were the case would have been well underway by now surely?

Cheers mate

Not that I needed to know but job well done Val Verde ! :)

Here you go just made it now it I believe is the area highlighted in blue to the west of the gyratory for Junction 3 of the M621:
Also why hasn't Flecter done this development in phases which if that were the case would have been well underway by now surely?

I think Jan Fletcher is sat on this site pending two major decisions - the location for the area, and the location for the regional casio. As I understand it the consent on this site includes provision for a 'regional sized' casino development - but where (notwithstanding national issues) the City Council allocates its regional casino licence is another matter.

Also why hasn't Flecter done this development in phases

Never say never...........
I almost hate myself for even contemplating this project seeing the light of day, but.....

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/2007/week18/inter__D6BA8ED31D11770D80256DFD005ACADB_17b0c7ee-b765-4377-ae8b-b7ada23c158a.pdf

"CITY ONE
Offices in a major mixed use development on the southern gateway to the city centre. Available in phases from 2008."


Now I know what you're thinking, but this article is recent, and from the reoprts of the other offices, it seems accurate and more importantly up to date. I.E, it doesnt seem to resort to guess work, as they havent even put on an available date for CP.

It also mentions a new development The Radius, which sounds like it may be down towards Readmans on Whitehall Road.

Oh well, we can only hope :nuts:

I remember reading very similar details in the Leeds office promotion magazine i picked up at the airport regarding both city one and a mention of Radius.

What's happening to the Temple Works?


http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/44/20021010_82694644.jpg


As part of a conference I took part in this week, an officer from Leeds City Council led a walking party round Holbeck. She told us of the plans for this site and came out with some things I wasn't aware of such as:

the City Council had a problem with the plans to turn this part of the site into shopping since it was outside the central retail area
the local authority and others (unspecified) were in discussion about potential uses for this building - a museum or gallery was mentioned
the council was talking to Yorkshire Forward who own Leodis Court across the road from the Temple Works - they're hoping to create a public square on at least part of the site


None of this is real news but it indicates that the site isn't dead and forgotten. Which is a relief, really, since the rest of the site is an absolute mess!

It seems to me that a museum or gallery would be the best option; a cultural use.

IMHO it should be a celebration of exactly what Leeds 'is'. It's a massive building, so could showcase the importance of the history of the area, how Leeds came to be, a selection of crafts and retailers selling locally produced items. Heck, get some of the Granary wharf stalls in here if they can't sort Granary Wharf out. A few eateries providing local delicalicies would be nice. Make it a destination in itself. Play on the "sustainable" merits that HUV seems to aspire to, get soe ingenious methods of powering the building (Solar panel the massive roof anyone?):cheers:
Also, I love the idea of Leodis court meeting it's maker and being replaced by a large square. The tin sheds are really not the look Holbeck Urban Village should be striving for.

Thats just my opinion though and obviously I dont know the commercial/economical factors involved here...

I want to see this building a busy, vibrant destination. I don't think a place with crafts etc would attract much attention. It could have an element of craft/Granary Wharf type shops. And some CornX shops if they're getting kicked out. But I would see that as a secondary use. It needs to have a flagship attraction that is a destination in its own right- similar principle to how Xscape has lots of shops etc but it's really known for it's Snow Slope. A new art gallery? I mean a major one- Leeds' Tate North. I would suggest a history of Leeds and that but that's what the City Museum will do. I hope that whatever this becomes, it will be of the same scale as the Royal Armouries.

What's happening to the Temple Works?


There was a Leeds City Council advert in Estates Gazette a couple of months ago promoting the site as a 'development opportunity'.

With this in mind, it's a shame Damien Hirst chose to house his art collection in Gloucestershire.

Couldn't agree more with LeedsNo1... this building would be perfect for an art gallery of the stature of say something like 'Tate Leeds'... create a real draw to this area of town as well as increasing Leeds' somewhat lacking cultural scene. There's plenty of room for parking as well!

IMO need to stop just building apartments, offices and shops... a city needs more than this to have a heart and soul and an srt gallery (not a crappy little one that noone visits!) would be perfect!

Won't happen though lol... probably just get filled with shops but hey ho:ohno:

Well Leeds City Art Gallery is bigger than most and I think it is a good art gallery. Unfortunately it's in the shadow of things like the Tate. A supporting gallery would do well for Leeds; not to replace or "do better" than what we have, but to support it and ehance Leeds as a cultural destination. And let's remember that art doesn't have to be paintings and that; I went to an amazing gallery in Salamanca which had lots of adverts and graphic pieces, and massive sculptures. Was really good; and it was in a bit of a rundown area (obviously a regeneration project) much the same as Holbeck.

Couldn't agree more with LeedsNo1... this building would be perfect for an art gallery of the stature of say something like 'Tate Leeds'... create a real draw to this area of town as well as increasing Leeds' somewhat lacking cultural scene. There's plenty of room for parking as well!

IMO need to stop just building apartments, offices and shops... a city needs more than this to have a heart and soul and an srt gallery (not a crappy little one that noone visits!) would be perfect!

Won't happen though lol... probably just get filled with shops but hey ho:ohno:

Don't see where you get the idea that it's so lacking in culture. The city art gallery is hardly lacking in quality and isn't small ('probably the best collection of 20th century British art outside London' - The Times; recognised by the Government as being of national importance). It's already got another gallery appended to it in the form of the Henry Moore. There are many cultural destinations on par with other cities. As well as benefiting from a re-located Armouries, there are destinations all over Leeds, many unmatched by any other city.

Nowhere else can boast a Cistercian abbey within three miles of its centre. In Temple Newsam and Harewood we have two fabulous examples of historic houses, not to mention beautiful parkland and first rate art collections (tell me the long gallery at Temple Newsam lacks culture). To a lesser extent there's Lotherton Hall, which makes up for its lack of history and architecture with its animal collection. And Roundhay has Tropical World.

There's a wide array of museum types: Armley and Thwaite Mills for industrial; the world's first powered railway at Middleton is a museum in all but name; Abbey House holds a fascinating collection. A medical museum at the Thackeray. Two urban farms (Meanwood, Temple Newsam).

And, for all that we bemoan the loss of The Duchess, live music is a damn sight healthier in Leeds than it was when I was a teenager and you can see music any night of the week at varied locations. Added to that, the fact that we have a huge rock festival every year no other major city can boast, the music scene isn't as bad as many would like to portray.

And don't forget one of the world's great piano competitions.

Although we are lacking in cinemas, there is an excellent film festival, which The Observer rated better than the London version. And the Children's Film Festival.

Oh, and the city is the major centre for dance outside London.

And we have the largest theatre complex outside the capital. And two other unique theatres to complement it. And The Carriageworks, a great forum for community arts.

Europe's oldest Caribbean carnival. A huge Mela. Opera in the Park, Shakepeare festivals.

And what about the Instituto Cervantes on Woodhouse Lane, which promotes Spanish language and culture.

I agree that we should expand the cultural offering and can think of no better place than this truly unique location, but we don't have to do just because we're not already cultured enough.

I agree. Adding to that is Opera North; the only provincial opera, and 2 of the UK's largest summer festivals.

Good list Loiners Girders, really shows what we do have, and my family do make use aof many of those items. There are of course many more if you travel just outside the city boundaries.

-----

and an art gallery (not a crappy little one that noone visits!) would be perfect!

I agree with your frustrations about some of the things Leeds lacks, but the newly refurbed art gallery is a gem in it's quality of surroundings and quantity of exhibits and is well visited, there is often a small group of people waiting outside for it to open in the morning.

I'm looking forward to the new museum opening, that will help create a larger gravity of cultural attractions in that civic quarter area.

I don't think Leeds is a cultural wasteland, but it would be nice to have a sexy concert hall/arena and a nationally recognised independent cinema.

I've always said relocating Thorp Arch's British Library facility to the city centre would create a British Library of the North, and bring in academic visitors to the city. Unfortunately, the existing site is expanding.


The British Library is having to build a massive new depository at B***** S** opening in 2008, to deal with all the low use deposits it has to store by law.

The new depository will house 7 million books, adding to the 3 million already stored at the B***** S** site.

As a legal deposit library, the BL receives copies of all books produced in the British Isles (UK and Ireland), including all foreign books distributed in the British Isles. It also purchases many items which are only published outside Britain and Ireland. The British Library adds some 3 million items every year, adding to the 150 million items already held by the library.

British Library - B***** S** near Wetherby in Yorkshire.

Video about the new Depository - http://www.bl.uk/about/annual/2006to2007/governet/steve_morris/morriswebcam.html

http://www.bl.uk/about/annual/2006to2007/

http://www.bl.uk/training_package/images/bspaerial.jpg

The new Depository will open in 2008 -

http://www.allenbuild.co.uk/uploadedfiles/Boston%20Spa%20Main.png

I don't think Leeds is a cultural wasteland, but it would be nice to have a sexy concert hall/arena and a nationally recognised independent cinema.

I've always said relocating Thorp Arch's British Library facility to the city centre would create a British Library of the North, and bring in academic visitors to the city. Unfortunately, the existing site is expanding.

I don't think it would bring anybody to the city. The whole point of these depositaries is that they are to house the books nobody want to look at, but which the library has to legally store. More information here (http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/future-warehouse-of-unwanted-books.html).

It's essentially dead space.

I don't think it would bring anybody to the city. The whole point of these depositaries is that they are to house the books nobody want to look at, but which the library has to legally store. More information here (http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/future-warehouse-of-unwanted-books.html).

It's essentially dead space.


You're right, but there is a reading room at Thorp Arch which i know from experience is used by students all the time. If that reading room was enlarged on a more easily accessible site, it could perform a similar function to the British Library in London. Howeverm, to argue against my own idea for a minute, the Thorp Arch facility was probably designed specifically as a holding area, a back office for the London surplus, so the reading room might already be the biggest concession they can make for academic users.

I hate the Thorp Arch site. It takes ages to get to, it's expensive to get to, it's like Area 51 to get in and out, it takes ages for the books to be delivered to your desk, and the photocopy machine is something like 50p a sheet. Pants.

I don't thiwawrdednk it would bring anybody to the city. The whole point of these depositaries is that they are to house the books nobody want to look at, but which the library has to legally store. More information here (http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/future-warehouse-of-unwanted-books.html).

It's essentially dead space.

I have a couple of friends of rather mature age - one earned a PhD last year at the age of 86! -who have been visiting Boston Spa British Library every week for the last seven years or so. They find that most books that they order are available there. Their frequent visits made them well known to the staff - so much so that they laid up a day's visit for them to the BL in London, all expenses paid, with red carpet down, meals for them etc.!

Drove Past the site today, by the signs on the hoardings it looks like there is a demolition company onsite getting rid of the old car dealership.

Also maybe the recent closure of la bowl (to the rear of the site) could be related to this project?

Also maybe the recent closure of la bowl (to the rear of the site) could be related to this project?

LA Bowls closed down?! :(

Thats a shame as although a terrible bowler its always good for a laugh. When did it close? Still at least there is the bowling alley in the Merrion Centre as well as Hollywood Bowl but surely id have thought id have heard something more concrete such as an announcement that this development is actually occuring unless they are just clearing the site and leaving it empty for nothing to occur. Are there any plans showing the entire development as it stands at the moment and any time frame? Still at least it will be a pleasent surprise to see it commence at last provided it is something of quality and not mediocrity.

The bowling alley at the Merrion is so expensive...

The bowling alley at the Merrion is so expensive...

It is pretty deer, its quite a good bowl though apart from the lumpy shoes!

I'm sure it's ok. I was going to go once though after I had been to Wagamama, but got there, saw the prices, so got the train home and went bowling here.

There's an excavator working on the site today. I don't suppose anybody knows what's going on?

Passed this site today, and it seems the old Fletchers garage has now been flattened.

Could this be the first sign that something is going to start on site soon. The Arena, a 40storey tower, Casino and major leisure complex would be nice for starters!!

I passed it yesterday, there was a sign up saying temporary let agreed, so I think it's just for some temporary use for the land.

Something must happen on there soon, presumably they are waiting for the decision on where the big casino will go before progressing any further with the plans.

Not heard the last of this yet...
Montpellier Estates are a sponsor of Leeds at MIPIM 08, and the website (http://www.locationleeds.com/sponsors/) says this:

Montpellier Estates
Montpellier is an international property investment and development group specialising in town and city centre mixed use regeneration projects. Montpellier are long term investors, committed to shaping the future of our towns and cities. We are at the forefront of new ideas and challenge the conventional wisdom. We are passionate about the future urban environment and we deliver pragmatic solutions to the most difficult of challenges.

One of our largest projects to date is City One, located at the southern gateway to Leeds. The site extends to 10 acres and current proposals include a 2million sq ft prestigious mixed use development of up to 40 storeys.

We are dedicated to our partnerships and projects. Montpellier work collaboratively with: landowners, investors, the community and the public sector to 'unlock' value and to deliver successful regeneration projects. Whether in the commercial, voluntary or public sector, people are at the centre of all our projects. We are always seeking to create opportunities and exciting projects with new partners.

Contact:

Ben Aspinall
Tel: 01423 877 900
Email: baspinall@montpellier-estates.co.uk

Website: www.montpellier-estates.co.uk

I still believe this will be the site of the Arena, with City One incorporated into the scheme.

We should be hearing something in the very near future as I think March was the month when some sort of announcement was to be made about the Arena project.

I still believe this will be the site of the Arena, with City One incorporated into the scheme.

Yeah I'd tend to agree with you. I'm still not optimistic that anything will happen in the medium term with City One. I've never heard of Montpellier Estates and would be surprised if a small developer has the means to undertake a 2m sq ft mixed use development particularly in the current climate.

We should be hearing something in the very near future as I think March was the month when some sort of announcement was to be made about the Arena project.

I'm not holding my breath :(

as said before, this scheme is very much alive. The amount of work and renders and proposals in the works is amazing - which i was lucky to see.

I'm suprised you haven't heard of Montpellier Estates. Jan Fletcher owns it; it's a big international group.

as said before, this scheme is very much alive. The amount of work and renders and proposals in the works is amazing - which i was lucky to see.

2 Questions then - does it still include a 40 storey tower, and if so is it good?

The delay may have something to do with the arena or waiting for the recent go-ahead on the big casino for Leeds, or maybe both?? I'm not in the property/construction business but there is very little information available on Montpellier estates. A website that only says that it (the website) been under construction since October 2007 doesn't look good for a group that's as big as Leeds No. 1 says.

I'm suprised you haven't heard of Montpellier Estates. Jan Fletcher owns it; it's a big international group.

Really? Has it done any other 1m sq ft + schemes?

Jan Fletcher's background is in the motor retail industry not property and I suspect that this makes financiers view the scheme as riskier than one by a developer with a proven track record in such schemes.

Wiggley, hope that you're right mate! Would be good to see it go ahead but I feel that if any major scheme is going to fall victim to the current financial climate then this is it.

Yes there is little information on them, but the name has cropped up before- I can't remember on what developments though.

However, I think Jan Fletcher still has the vision to build a 40 storey tower; similar to Linfoot, it's not just about money making, but she actually wants to do something to be proud of. I also think it may come with the arena.

Yes there is little information on them, but the name has cropped up before- I can't remember on what developments though.

However, I think Jan Fletcher still has the vision to build a 40 storey tower; similar to Linfoot, it's not just about money making, but she actually wants to do something to be proud of. I also think it may come with the arena.

I'm sure that she has the vision but whether she has the financial means is a very different question. Comparing Jan Fletcher to Kevin Linfoot is ridiculous. Kevin Linfoot has been in property for 20+ years starting with small developments and working up to huge developments such as Lumiere. Financiers are looking for a proven track record in property such as Kevin Linfoot's before putting money into such a major development as they see it is being far less risky.

In the current climate I just do not see someone without a proven track record in large developments as being able to secure funding for such a huge project.

In answer to my slightly loaded question about whether they have done a 1m + sq ft development before, in my experience if you have then you sing about it in any PR releases, if they were as you say a 'big international group' then I'm fairly sure that the text about them would mention having previously developed mixed use schemes at X, Y and Z.

The finance market has moved on significantly since the scheme was proposed, financiers are far more risk averse now and I just don't see that this is a scheme that they would be keen to fund or at least not at a cost of capital that would make it viable.

I am however a grumpy old cynic so I hope that I am wrong! :D

2 Questions then - does it still include a 40 storey tower, and if so is it good?

no 40 storey tower on the proposals :(

There's about 6 diferent designs - all incorporating an arena. Some of the arenas were U shaped, other designs were oval. No 40 storey tower on any of the designs, but instead each design had 5 small mid rises, i'd say ranging from 6 to 20 storeys, also an incorporation of a supermarket. The arena part looks very futuristic.

no 40 storey tower on the proposals :(

There's about 6 diferent designs - all incorporating an arena. Some of the arenas were U shaped, other designs were oval. No 40 storey tower on any of the designs, but instead each design had 5 small mid rises, i'd say ranging from 6 to 20 storeys, also an incorporation of a supermarket. The arena part looks very futuristic.

So what architectural firms are involved then and just when are they going to release any renders? So would this be a full size out of town style supermarket as surely so close to Leeds city centre it would be better if it was a smaller Express / Metro type mini-supermarket. Do any of these renders include this casino in their plans?

Agree regarding the financial aspects though as leaving this site as it is for over twenty years with a view to develop it is hurrendously long term especially when you think that planning permissions are only valid for five years. So has Jan Fletcher had any property experience anywhere else other than this City One scheme as surely you would need the experience to bring together such a large project?

I actually think a full sized large supermarket would be good here. There's only so far convenience stores can serve people. A full range supermarket for people living in Central Leeds would be good I think.

It is pretty deer, its quite a good bowl though apart from the lumpy shoes!

Good for a stag night ?

Hollywood Bowl at Kirkstall is far nicer, and then a short taxi/bus ride into town...

I don't know if Jan Fletcher owns the former LA Bowl site but I'm assuming that she does, hence its closure and demolition as you can see below. There's no planning application that I'm aware of for the site so I'm going to make another assumption which is that it will be used for car parking.



http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/4%20April%202008/4April2008131.jpg?t=1207294665



http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/4%20April%202008/4April2008133.jpg?t=1207294692

grief! What a shocker of a building. Who decided on green? Ho hum, better laid to waste and left as car park for a few years. Thanks for all your photo updates over the last few days aviator.

A shock return for this old thread.

In Leeds Uni's Around Leeds book, there's some comment on City One from Jan Flecther and one of her development partners. Sorry if this is already well known, but apparently (if i remember rightly) the site was relying on its casino to make it viable, but after the government decided against giving the green light to medium sized casinos (in early 2007) there was a need to find something else to make the site work, so an arena and then, less impressively, a supermarket were discussed as possible replacements. Intriguingly, a masterplan was drawn up by Koetter Kim called 'New Holbeck' which outlined how the site could be intergrated with the surrounding area. I still think it's a dead duck.

Some interesting ideas, but yeah it has to be dead at this economic time. However, I do believe that Jan Fletcher and others still have a vision for the site that will be realised in one way or another when things start to improve.

Sorry if this is already well known, but apparently (if i remember rightly) the site was relying on its casino to make it viable, but after the government decided against giving the green light to medium sized casinos (in early 2007)

But the 'large casino' license awarded to Leeds still stands, does it not?

Manchester's supercasino was scrapped about a year ago, but as far as I know, the large casinos weren't scrapped

Yes you're right. I expect the government is preoccupied with things at the moment- and do they really want people to go wasting money in casino's when money is so tight atm anyway?

do they really want people to go wasting money in casino's when money is so tight atm anyway?


They want the public spending more in general, so yes.

any updates on this project

lol this thing died a long time ago m8. jan fletcher moved on from this ages ago.

whats it under preplanning on skyscrapernews? then

She was in our office a month or two ago....... so it's still there

whats it under preplanning on skyscrapernews? then

what's the last editorial date for it? you should also check the editorial date to see how current the information is which is why it exists.

A lot of proposals that were in pre-planning but have gone no further mainly due to the recession have not actually been officially cancelled, they just haven't progressed any further, kind of unofficially in abeyance.

Or have been quietly shelved...

Or have been quietly shelved...


Funny you should say that. Montpelier Estates have clearly not given up on this site, not surprisingly given that Jan Fletcher has spent many years buying up the plots of land that would comprise City One.

Anyway, they're back with their latest proposals, to be considered at next week's meeting of the City Centre Plans Panel; see here (http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/Published/C00000173/M00004403/AI00022355/PRE0900006CITYONE.pdf) for the paper. It's only a pre-application report so there is very little detail but it seems to be a mix of uses very similar to what was being proposed before (minus, of course, the casino).

Let's see if this one goes anywhere!

Brilliant news - obviously they are thinking it would be over 5 years til anything was completed by which time the economy would have recovered.
Still mentions 40 storeys as well!

With Bankside showing renders of at least a 30 storey tower, and this 40 storeys, are we at last seeing skyscraper developments coming back on the drawing board in Leeds and hopefully being developed as well.

Just to avoid confusion - the 30 storey render shown is inidcative of potential for an adjacent development, and is not included in the Bankside scheme which has lots of blocks at 9/10 storeys.

back from the dead, or the last stuttering death rattle of a property opportunist who talked a good story but has produced zip........

^^
Exactly right Jimbo - the only way she will ever build anything is if someone gets her Lego for Xmas.

Fletcher needs to put up or shut up.

I hope it does go up,

^^
Exactly right Jimbo - the only way she will ever build anything is if someone gets her Lego for Xmas.


:ohno: She must have heard what you and Jimbo have been saying about her:


Back on track: Leeds hotel-flats plan

Published Date: 31 October 2009

By Paul Robinson

Yorkshire entrepreneur Jan Fletcher has reaffirmed her commitment to long-standing redevelopment proposals for inner-city Leeds. Ms Fletcher's Montpellier Estates company won outline planning permission in 2006 for a scheme in Holbeck boasting hundreds of flats and hotel rooms and tens of thousands of square metres of office space.

But the businesswoman then failed in a bid to add an extra dimension to the City One project by making it the home for the new Leeds concert arena. That setback was followed last month by the expiry of the outline approval obtained by Montpellier in 2006.

Now, though, it has emerged that the firm is preparing to submit a fresh planning application to the council later this year. And although there have been some changes to the blueprint since 2006, Montpellier says its determination to make a success of the scheme remains unaltered.

The revised development is due to comprise 10 buildings, including a hotel and a casino as well as residential and office accommodation. A piece of open space would act as a 'green heart' for the 10-acre site, which is bounded by Sweet Street, Meadow Road, Jack Lane and Bowling Green Terrace.

Revealing details of the forthcoming planning application, Ms Fletcher said: "As we come out of recession and the market improves, we want to be ready. We are confident that the scheme we are proposing .... is a strong one."

Leeds City Council rejected Ms Fletcher's bid to take the Leeds arena to Sweet Street in November last year. It also knocked back a separate private sector plan to build the arena next to Leeds United's Elland Road ground.

The council instead decided it would develop the venue itself at Clay Pit Lane near the Merrion shopping centre. Montpellier subsequently began court proceedings against the local authority over the decision. The firm said today that it was unable to comment on the proceedings.

Is she just essentially 'renewing' the planning though?

As for the arena, if she's so bothered then they should build an arena anyway and compete!

From the Leeds City Living 2010 research paper:


City One: A revised outline planning application is to be submitted in Spring 2010 for this 10-acre site on the southern edge of the city centre, seven minutes’ walk from Leeds railway station. Montpellier’s vision for the redevelopment of this site is for ‘an exciting, prestigious, high quality, sustainable, mixed-use development comprising residential units, grade A office space, restaurants, retail units, a hotel and a large casino. Majoring on ‘livability’ instead of efficiency, the scheme will create space and places where people want to live and spend time. It will enclose high quality public open green spaces and the new design will ‘repair’ the urban fabric in this part of the city with a series of interconnecting urban public spaces linking the communities of Holbeck and Beeston back into Holbeck Urban Village and the city centre.

David Williams, Projects Director

Does that mean it be Underconstruction this year? and is it also 112 metres? or 120 metres as this thread says. Skyscrapernews estimates 112 metres.

No chance. They are putting in an outline application which will merely establish the principle of development. There is no requirement to submit detailed design drawings at this stage which probably means that there is still a whole lot more work to be done before this even gets full planning.

Sounds like it's years away from becoming reality.

maybe to you sheff boy. :ohno:

yes. and once approved the application should give the land parcel a nice boost in value.

maybe to you sheff boy. :ohno:

To someone who knows what they are talking about.

yes. and once approved the application should give the land parcel a nice boost in value.

Yes indeed.:)

What street/address is this on?

she's been rabbiting on about building something for the last 30 years the silly cow.. comletely missed the boom too lol

she's been rabbiting on about building something for the last 30 years the silly cow.. comletely missed the boom too lol

Several booms surely Wiggly? Anyway 30 years is surely an insanely long gestation for such a scheme. Wonder if Jan Fletcher could sell the land off is she gets planning permission or would wait until the economy starts to grow and developments are back in fashion?

What street/address is this on?

It's at the site of Halfords and where there was once LA Bowl and the Peugeot and Citroen Car showroom which traded as Fletchers just off J3 of the M621 as shown on the old map below on Meadow Road, Jack Lane and Sweet Street.

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/3479/cityonesitemapet0.jpg

It would certainly be a substantial development if anything ever takes place and it would surely add to a possible skyscraper alley on Meadow Road / Victoria Road south of the railway station including Bridgewater Place and possible redevelopment of the Hindle Valves site and maybe a ressurrection of sorts for Criterion Place? Any ideas for a development which might realisticlly take place in the near future for City One which would work and not be a white elephant?

By a strange coincidence, the outline application has been submitted:


Reference
10/00923/OT/C

Applicant
Montpellier Estates Ltd

Description
Outline planning application for redevelopment of land at Meadow Road for uses within the following classes B1, D2, C1, C3 (up to 296 residential units) and ancillary A1, A3, A4 and A5 uses, including associated works for formation of site access roads

Location
Land bounded by Sweet Street, Meadow Road, Jack Lane, Bowling Green Terrace and Trent Street, Leeds 11

Agent
White Young Green Planning And Design
Sue Ansbro
Arndale Court
Headingley
Leeds
LS6 2UJ

If you go here (http://plandocs.leeds.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=10/00923/OT), you will find all the documents associated with the application including the indicative site layout.

Not an awful lot of design going on is there.

Outline is the cheapest way to get an uplift on your site value if you consider that all the additional reports and consultant fees for a full planning job this size would probably add well over half a million quid onto the cost at the very least.

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5016/sitere.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5607/section.jpg

Not an awful lot of design going on is there.

Outline is the cheapest way to get an uplift on your site value if you consider that all the additional reports and consultant fees for a full planning job this size would probably add well over half a million quid onto the cost at the very least.....

I'm puzzled. I thought that Jan Fletcher already had outline approval for City One (albeit for a slightly smaller site than the one currently under consideration). Either way, I agree with you that's it's a stunt to get the maximum return on the site. How is a company like hers going to lever the finance to undertake a more than 2 million square foot development?

How is a company like hers going to lever the finance to undertake a more than 2 million square foot development?

Well with the way things are at the moment I can't see it to be honest.

Thing is outline doesn't neccesarily deliver maximum return on a site as there is still a significant element of risk that a full planning application would remove. A site with full planning is always worth more than a site with outline consent only. Outline applications are usually a means for site owners to achive an uplift through planning with minimal cost and nearly always end up with the site being sold on.

I think it's little more than a regular pattern of submitting basic outline applications every so many years, as has gone on for some time now (this is third major one I can think of). It must be to maintain the outline consent already granted, or just to keep up the appearance of a 'live' project but I don't know why the latter as I presume there's no real prospect of it starting for a long time.

I also don't think having outline or full consent on this plot will add much value, as at this distance from the centre there are any number of sites that could gain (and have gained) planning permission for large multi-purpose schemes with tall elements. There is no problem getting such consents in Leeds.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Leeds-Ambitious-redevelopment-proposals-move.6154347.jp
Leeds: Ambitious redevelopment proposals move forward

16 March 2010
Paul Robinson

Ambitious redevelopment proposals for the southern edge of Leeds city centre have taken a significant step forward.

Yorkshire entrepreneur Jan Fletcher's Montpellier Estates company today announced the submission of an outline planning application for a two million sq ft mixed use scheme in Holbeck.

The City One development would bring a hotel, casino, office space and residential and retail units to a 10-acre site bounded by Sweet Street, Meadow Road, Jack Lane and Bowling Green Terrace.

And Ms Fletcher believes the scheme would boost ongoing council-led regeneration work by linking inner-city communities in Holbeck and Beeston to the prosperous heart of Yorkshire's unofficial capital.

She said: "City One is widely acknowledged as one of the most prestigious city centre development sites in the north of England.

"Its strength lies in its location, just off the motorways and walking distance from Leeds City Station.

"Our vision is to create a spectacular entrance and skyline from the city's southern gateway."

Ms Fletcher's proposals show some changes from City One's original blueprint, which was granted outline planning permission in 2006.

Although the scheme now involves 25 per cent more land, its conference centre and Las Vegas-style 'supercasino' have fallen by the wayside.
The casino now being proposed could be around three times smaller than the gaming complex that was initially on the drawing board.

Ms Fletcher also wanted part of the City One site to be the home of the new 12,500-seater Leeds concert arena.

That dream was dashed, though, when council bosses decided the arena should be built at Clay Pit Lane, on the northern outskirts of the city centre.

The freshly-submitted planning application follows last September's expiry of the original outline approval for City One.

Most of the land earmarked for the development is currently occupied by car parks and old warehouses.

----------------------------
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/mar/15/floodlights-lucid-dreams-and-skyscrapers

Also in the headlines...

An outline planning application has finally been submitted to build a complex of ten new buildings topped by a 25 floor tall tower in Leeds called City One, writes skyscrapernews.com.

Developed by Jan Fletcher's Montpellier Estates, the project has been a 30-year dream of the businesswoman. It features buildings ranging from nine storeys upwards with a combination of offices and residential space - adding up to some 296 apartments and a total floor-space of approximately 200,000 square metres.

If approved and constructed it would see what is effectively a new mixed-use urban quarter built between Sweet Street, Meadow Road, Jack Lane, Trent Street and Bowling Green Terrace.

ironic given that a convention centre would be a massively lucrative, she drops it.

Stick a 'large' casino and/or conference facilities there and you have customers for the hotel

It sounds like just flats and offices now! That's bound to be a roaring success

What a waste of a great location. Good job Fletcher is unlikely to ever build any of her flats and offices

I agree. It would be an incredible location for a conference centre. It's a problem though because the site is owned by Fletcher. So it will either stay as it is, or be redeveloped in an unimaginative fashion.

Stick a 'large' casino and/or conference facilities there and you have customers for the hotel

It sounds like just flats and offices now! That's bound to be a roaring success

What a waste of a great location. Good job Fletcher is unlikely to ever build any of her flats and offices

Well as you said a large casino and conference centre would certainly be a unique attraction for Leeds. How exactly would just yet another development focused on flats and offices be successful considering the plentiful availability of offices in and around the city centre and the fact that city centre flats have declined in popularity (although I guess there could be a possible recovery in that field if things don't go OTT as it did several years back).

It just seems such a joke that this idea of Janet Fletchers has been on the cards since the 1980s and how come is she somehow so keen to create such a large city centre development if all she owns (I believe unless I am mistaken) are some car showrooms and Bryans fish and chips in Headingley.

Staying on the subject of a conference centre there is certainly ample space to construct a conference centre in Holbeck considering the land available including the former Kays / Reality distribution site. Was there never any proposals for the Kay's building which would have seen the retention of that building (and could have potentialy provided a substantial number of jobs as opposed to just leaving it as a empty plot of land)?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2640552042_b6f91eae23.jpg

Perhaps the best way for Leeds to get a conference centre is to use existing buildings. There are many buildings, both old and new, that are unused in Holbeck. Could some of the older buildings be renovated; perhaps others arcaded together, to create an exhibition centre/conference centre? Warehouses could be used initially too, at least until there is enough money to replace them. Only recently has HIC been able to replace its warehouse exhibition halls with higher quality suites and halls.

It just seems such a joke that this idea of Janet Fletchers has been on the cards since the 1980s and how come is she somehow so keen to create such a large city centre development if all she owns (I believe unless I am mistaken) are some car showrooms and Bryans fish and chips in Headingley.

There are many land owners who have no intention of building anything or selling the sites they own and just roll over planning application after planning application to maintain some level of value on a site. The result is sites like this which you think would have potential yet are left to decay and blight city centres.

There are many land owners who have no intention of building anything or selling the sites they own and just roll over planning application after planning application to maintain some level of value on a site. The result is sites like this which you think would have potential yet are left to decay and blight city centres.

It's worth mentioning that Jan Fletcher used to own the Eastgate Quarters site, which she sold for a handsome profit to Hammerson after doing jack all with the site herself.

It's worth mentioning that Jan Fletcher used to own the Eastgate Quarters site, which she sold for a handsome profit to Hammerson after doing jack all with the site herself.

Looks like she has, and had her fingers in quite a few pies, "as far as this development goes I'm sure it's all mouth and no action"... as Di Liv says purveyor of land developer of none, bet she was gutted when the site for the arena was announced !,

More reading on Jan,... Here :| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Fletcher

.....More reading on Jan,... Here :| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Fletcher

Thank God I don't have a suspicious mind or I'd think she wrote that Wikipedia entry herself. :ohno:

Perhaps the best way for Leeds to get a conference centre is to use existing buildings. There are many buildings, both old and new, that are unused in Holbeck. Could some of the older buildings be renovated; perhaps others arcaded together, to create an exhibition centre/conference centre? Warehouses could be used initially too, at least until there is enough money to replace them. Only recently has HIC been able to replace its warehouse exhibition halls with higher quality suites and halls.

There is a long standing agreement that no other councils in West Yorks will develop a conference centre to rival Harrogate.

That dates back to the 70's.

Well tbh it probably fits in with the model of the City Region now, and even if Leeds did develop a conference centre, it would be decades before it was anywhere near the size of Harrogate unless it had a huge amount of external funding.

There is a long standing agreement that no other councils in West Yorks will develop a conference centre to rival Harrogate.

That dates back to the 70's.

Harrogate isn't even in West yorkshire, how does that work?

Well, at the time it was in the West Riding with Leeds and what is now known as West Yorkshire.

But it isn't any longer and hasn't been for years. We're eventually getting an arena in Leeds but we wouldn't be if we had that same attitude for the fear of upsetting Sheffield.

I know Harrogate is now part of Leeds City region but that is only in the last year. Leeds should have built a conference centre years ago and let Harrogate sink or swim.

But it isn't any longer and hasn't been for years. We're eventually getting an arena in Leeds but we wouldn't be if we had that same attitude for the fear of upsetting Sheffield.

I know Harrogate is now part of Leeds City region but that is only in the last year. Leeds should have built a conference centre years ago and let Harrogate sink or swim.

Well, last 5 or 6 years...

But anyway, Leeds should have built or developed a conference centre a long time ago. The problem I see now though is that Leeds has two competitors; Harrogate most prominently, but Manchester also has a growing conference industry.

So if Leeds is to develop a conference centre now, it needs to be on a scale that can stand alongside Manchester, or even Harrogate, otherwise it would risk being a white elephant. That would require a significant investment; Harrogate is investing £50m on just expanding its current facilities- so I can't see a clear way forward for Leeds when it has only just got funding for the arena; a project costing far less than a decent conference centre would.

Why would it "need" to be the same size as the HICC?

Leeds has plenty of conference facilities, but could do with a big hall. A complex the size of the HICC or NEC isn't necessary at all, nor does it need to be as big as the ICC in Birmingham city centre, but something like Manchester's Central would fill a gap and would be ideal for Holbeck

It needs to have something competitive though; whether thats size, quality or whatever, otherwise conferences will just stay at HIC, NEC or Manchester.

If a conference centre was built, more hotels would be needed too.

Well, last 5 or 6 years...

You're being pedantic. You know that wasn't the point.

I really fail to see how Leeds cannot sustain a conference centre of any size. I used to work in event management some years ago for the NHS. Leeds has a massive health sector, not to mention finance but there was never any venues large enough to to fill 200 delegates, let alone 500. Transport links are much better in Leeds than Harrogate, especially for International events when delegates are likely to be staying in hotels in the city centre.

The problem isn't thinking big, just give us anything.

In the correct place is the news story on the City One development apparently exacerbating divisions in Leeds. http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/jul/05/city-one-development-leeds-plans

Major new city development 'could lead to tale of two Leeds'* Calls for inner city residents to have say on multi-million pound City One development
* 'Donut of desolation' seperates city centre and inner city communities
A major development on the southern edge of the city centre could exacerbate the divide between the haves and have nots in Leeds unless proper consultation is carried out, it has been claimed.


Personally I am rather critical that any development here would exacerbate the divide between the haves in the city centre and the have nots in Holbeck, Beeston and Hunslet as surely any development here would be a good thing i'd have thought as it would surely be better than doing nothing on this site and it would help to attract further investment into the surrounding area in the long run, although it is certainly fair enough that nearby residents should certainly have input on the planned development as well as not being locked out of the development in anyway.

However the Guardian article does of course fail to mention that plans for this development have been ongoing for at least 20 years now and I cannot see Jan Fletcher suddenly deciding to start construction on this development if she had spent the 1990s, 2000s and I believe much of the 1980s thinking as opposed to actually doing anything on the City One site.

Wonder how Jan Fletcher would aim to make the City One development viable considering the difficulty in other city centre developments in getting off the ground such as Wellington Place and the possible failure of other complete developments to take off it's retail element such as Clarence Dock and of course City One is rather some distance away from the established city centre and doesn't even have any natural attractions such as a river passing through it although of course it has a motorway junction right next door to it which would work in it's favour.

Going back to the conference centre comments from March, if you look at the Delegates Report on the arena, there's a City Region Spatial Planning Policy that forbids Leeds from building anything with floorspace above a certain square footage and this is why the Leeds arena only has a nominal standing capacity

It sucks

Going back to the conference centre comments from March, if you look at the Delegates Report on the arena, there's a City Region Spatial Planning Policy that forbids Leeds from building anything with floorspace above a certain square footage and this is why the Leeds arena only has a nominal standing capacity

It sucks

Is this purely to avoid adversely affecting the HIC in Harrogate or is there some other reason why Leeds cannot have a large Conference Venue which I always believed Leeds should have had imo. Wonder if the Queens Hall which was demolished in 1989 would have exceeded this maximum floorspace rule as it surely could have acted through redevelopment and expansion as a nucleus for a conference and exhibitions quarter i'd have thought especially when you consider it's location right next door to the railway station.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/2869696249_15fbe5fb88.jpg

I doubt it; HIC is 18,500sq. m- you'd have to go pretty big to exceed that. To compare, Manchester Central is 10,000sq. m.

Is this purely to avoid adversely affecting the HIC in Harrogate

Looks like it, although they talk in terms of the arena complementing the HIC.

Recomendation 7

The event level standing floor area shall not exceed 1500sqm...To ensure that the arena function is complementary to Harrogate conference facility in accordance with Regional Spatial Strategy policy LCR1 (A7)

Looks like it, although they talk in terms of the arena complementing the HIC.

Recomendation 7

The event level standing floor area shall not exceed 1500sqm...To ensure that the arena function is complementary to Harrogate conference facility in accordance with Regional Spatial Strategy policy LCR1 (A7)

It will be interesting to see what happens in the future since, as I understand it, the new government has abolished regional planning policy. Presumably this is based on free market principles and would leave the way open to some bold entrepreneur developing something the size of Birmingham's NEC in Leeds. Obviously, they'd need pretty bottomless pockets so I don't think Harrogate Council has much to worry about.

Well, I personally see that as a little silly. I think Leeds Arena and HIC can exist quite comfortably together. Firstly, there are enough people to sustain both, but more importantly they meet different needs.

Leeds Arena will be there for conferences regarding big auditoriums and people more concerned about location than facilities.

HIC will remain the flagship conference centre in the north for the major exhibitions and conferences.

Both venues have equally valid places in the market.

Movement on the revised outline application (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=KYLP2QJB0FZ00). A new design and access statement has been submitted with associated docs....

Good spot - I think most interesting doc to summarise is this one: https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/files/9637EBE38E7F9BA2E55E16D1037358D9/pdf/10_00923_OT-REV_._DESIGN_AND_ACCESS_STATEMENT_PART_1-503105.pdf and https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/files/5821EBD7D0973B62C4403A796B992DF1/pdf/10_00923_OT-REV_._DESIGN_AND_ACCESS_STATEMENT_PART_2-503108.pdf

Seems to negate possibility of large casino, which I thought was still on? Also seems to ignore new Southern station entrance (minor point)

Pardon me, but has there been a great reduction in height for this? All the visuals show massing of around 5 storeys.

Does seem to be the case. I don't necessarily mind this for most of the site if it makes it more viable, but I think the Meadow Lane frontage needs to be higher if possible, and it would be appropriate to have a taller building (not necessary 'tall', just taller than the others), on the south east corner of the site.

Hotel is a good size building 18 to 26 storey's so will be a good focal point to the development. looks good but i feel that this will never get going, as jan fletcher has not shown any real ambition to actually start construction, rather just increase the price of the land she owns.....

Never will happen but heres a picture i found.

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/melfiire/SnapShot49-1.png

And from what i can see its 18 floors which is roughly a 70m/75m building.

Never will happen but heres a picture i found.

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/melfiire/SnapShot49-1.png

And from what i can see its 18 floors which is roughly a 70m/75m building.

That was a very old picture which predated the proposal to increase it to 40 floors. Alas, this scheme appears dead in the water.

Never will happen but heres a picture i found.

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/melfiire/SnapShot49-1.png

And from what i can see its 18 floors which is roughly a 70m/75m building.

oh god, that looks horribly dated already... lucky escape me thinks! :)

All the docs are still illustrative at the moment, but in their example masterplan they do show a 25 storey tower. Also it still mentions it would be in the "envelope" of 18-40 storeys... It also states they may go with no tall buildings at all.

I think they will be looking at this idea of hosting the Leeds "Large" casino which is allowed... If they can attract this, then they will likely get a hotel operator and interest from restaurants/bars. Office demand should be on the up, and there's not exactly loads of residential coming to the market... So all in all could be good timing if parts of it were completing in 3 years or so (it also mentions building in phases).

Entertainment is usually a good way to go- seems to keep developments like Clarence Dock surviving. What happened to that plan for an ice rink at Elland Road? I'm sure that'd be a success at the City One site.

I'd rather see them build less buildings but taller than loads of low rise buildings. Low rise buildings make a place feel like a soulless office park. Density is needed to heal the urban fabric and make it feel like a City, not an M4 business park.

...and make it feel like a City, not an M4 business park.

Ah yes, the sexiness that is Slough! Haha

Movement on the revised outline application (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=KYLP2QJB0FZ00). A new design and access statement has been submitted with associated docs....

Well this is the development that has apparently been in the works for the past 30 years. :ohno: Il only believe it when I see it thanks as it could just be a case of looking like wanting to construct a development just to increase the value of the land.

Something does definately need doing at the City One site but with Jan Flecters track record in never constructing a development I wouldn't hold my hopes up.

Blast from the past! City One outline planning recommended for approval. To be rubber stamped at next weeks plans panel.

agenda (http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=5823)

I don't expect a 40 floor tower to be built.. are they just doing it to increase land value?

Yes Aaron thats exactly what will happen, they will get outline planning and do nothing at all, she is all talk.

Yes Aaron thats exactly what will happen, they will get outline planning and do nothing at all, she is all talk.

Ditto. Il only see this proposal is for real whenever I see works finally commence at this long drawn out development as this Jan Fletcher always talks up this development without ever doing anything.

Blast from the past! City One outline planning recommended for approval. To be rubber stamped at next weeks plans panel.

agenda (http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=5823)

Here we go again :nuts:

Planning chiefs back gateway development (http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/planning-chiefs-back-gateway-development-1-4887648)
Saturday 1 September 2012 06:00

PLANS for a major office, leisure and residential scheme on a key gateway site into Leeds city centre have won the backing of councillors.

Montpellier Estates Ltd wants to build apartments, a hotel, shops, bars, cafes, offices and a multi-storey car park on a 10-acre site bounded by Meadow Road, Sweet Street, Jack Lane and Bowling Green Terrace, south of the city centre.

The site, currently partly occupied by Halfords, is passed by thousands of motorists each day heading to the city centre from the M621.

It was put forward by Montpellier as a possible location for the Leeds Arena under a tendering process.

But Leeds council opted to build the arena on publicly-owned land in a move over which both parties are still at loggerheads.

The company intends to build 10 blocks around a large area of public open space which a planning report for councillors said would provide a “green heart to the development”. The tallest building will be between 18 and 40 storeys.

The report said the application was similar to a scheme given approval in 2006 but which did not go ahead.

As part of a legal agreement connected to the outline planning consent, the developer will provide over £1.1m for public transport improvements.

While accepting the plan was at outline stage, councillors were concerned about a lack of detail, particularly over the potential heights of the buildings.

What are the chances of this materialising any time soon? 18 - 40 storey... Hmmm thats quite a large range!

If memory serves wasnt this owned by that land banking businesswoman who was happy to sit on it? Is Montpellier her company or? :dunno:

Planning chiefs back gateway development (http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/planning-chiefs-back-gateway-development-1-4887648)
Saturday 1 September 2012 06:00

PLANS for a major office, leisure and residential scheme on a key gateway site into Leeds city centre have won the backing of councillors.

Montpellier Estates Ltd wants to build apartments, a hotel, shops, bars, cafes, offices and a multi-storey car park on a 10-acre site bounded by Meadow Road, Sweet Street, Jack Lane and Bowling Green Terrace, south of the city centre.

The site, currently partly occupied by Halfords, is passed by thousands of motorists each day heading to the city centre from the M621.

It was put forward by Montpellier as a possible location for the Leeds Arena under a tendering process.

But Leeds council opted to build the arena on publicly-owned land in a move over which both parties are still at loggerheads.

The company intends to build 10 blocks around a large area of public open space which a planning report for councillors said would provide a “green heart to the development”. The tallest building will be between 18 and 40 storeys.

The report said the application was similar to a scheme given approval in 2006 but which did not go ahead.

As part of a legal agreement connected to the outline planning consent, the developer will provide over £1.1m for public transport improvements.

While accepting the plan was at outline stage, councillors were concerned about a lack of detail, particularly over the potential heights of the buildings.

This is great news! It would be nice to see some sort if nightlife in South Bank as an alternative to the bars, pubs and clubs north of the river. I really hope this can get off the ground!!!

Yeah Jan Fletcher. I don't expect it'll get anywhere. It didn't during the biggest boom in years, why would it now?

A lot of things during the boom years didn't get off the ground, especially when they were proposed later on and were shelved due to the recession. A few things seem to be kicking off now, granted they are not the 40 storey monsters proposed but they are something replacing large holes in the ground. If anything does occur then I don't expect a very tall building, look at the Lumiere site for example, a modest 11 storeys proposed.

this (holbeck) is a real 'gateway' site though, whereas Lumiere wasn't....

Yeah Jan Fletcher. I don't expect it'll get anywhere. It didn't during the biggest boom in years, why would it now?

Ditto. Il only believe this CityOne proposal is for real only when construction finally commences as it has been proposed for so long with no action taking place despite a fantastic location by junction 3 of the M621. I can cynically see this planning application as an exercise in attracting attention and increasing the land value of this site. Is a casino still proposed here?

this (holbeck) is a real 'gateway' site though, whereas Lumiere wasn't....

The lumiere is a landmark prominent site though, might not be gateway in the sense of 'entrance to the city', but its location deserves something of good quality, if not reasonable height.

Am just going passed that site now on the no2. It needs something good there. Has looked terrible for years.

She wont do squat, with the site, fucking poxy rich kid who daddy left it all too and is somehow one of the most respected business women in the world, dad left all the money, she did fuck all other than hide it offshore and then take the council to court , first class dick IMO..... sell the site and get some one serious in to develop it....

I really can't see this happening soon. I bet the council have just given her planning concent to appease her after the Arena fight between Montpellier and LCC. Montpellier have just not got the ability to start any major project in Leeds otherwise as has already been said, she would have got this off the ground in the boom years when it was first proposed

Saying 'Jan Fletcher' on here is like telling a joke. There's no way this will happen.

Correct, it's like Westfield in Bfd, but this has probably been going even longer, and this will never happen (at least Westfield has two or three tennants out of the 20-odd needed, so has a slight chance).

All we can hope for with this prominent site is that she sells it on to a proper developer who can do something with the site. She's been buying up and accumulating plots here for decades, but it is probably just an investment pot to sell some time in the future, hopefully sooner rather than later, as the site continues to rot.

She probably just wants to keep the income from the car parks on the site.

The company intends to build 10 blocks around a large area of public open space

Funniest thing I've read for a long time.

Correct, it's like Westfield in Bfd, but this has probably been going even longer, and this will never happen (at least Westfield has two or three tennants out of the 20-odd needed, so has a slight chance).

All we can hope for with this prominent site is that she sells it on to a proper developer who can do something with the site. She's been buying up and accumulating plots here for decades, but it is probably just an investment pot to sell some time in the future, hopefully sooner rather than later, as the site continues to rot.

How old is Jan Fletcher? It wouldn't surprise me if she did a Ken Bates and kept a hold of this site until she died or found someone who paid insanely over the odds for the City One site. :ohno:

Certainly such a key site deserves much better other that such blatant landbanking and I could never understand why work wasn't done phased to make such a development more viable which there must be some demand for a office and residential development right next to a key motorway junction surely.

Jan Fletcher? Won't happen. Nothing more needs saying. Close the thread.

"You're having a Jan Fletcher" meaning 'Joke' [adjective] someone who says they will do something even though they never intend to do it.

I don't expect a 40 floor tower to be built.. are they just doing it to increase land value?

depending on how it's done they can even carry some of the forward value of the development's gross development value in say 10 years time on their balance sheet now, and then use it as an asset! :nuts:

Considering it's a Jan Fletcher project, it doesn't surprise me. :|

"You're having a Jan Fletcher" meaning 'Joke' [adjective] someone who says they will do something even though they never intend to do it.

:lol:

This is quality.

Loiner rhyming slang.

try as i might, i can't find this development on the leeds planning portal. does anyone have the actual planning application number for it?

It is the outline application reference number: 10/00923/OT

Note that the front page of the portal doesn't find the application if you enter the reference, but going into 'advanced' allows the reference to be entrered in its own box, and it will then find the application.

Does this sound like a company in a bit of trouble?


Property values fall at Montpellier Estates

JAN Fletcher's Montpellier Estates, the property company involved in a High Court case over Leeds Arena, has seen the value of its assets fall by more than £10m.

Recently filed accounts show that Harrogate-based Montpellier's fixed assets, including investment property, fell to £32.6m in the year ended June 30, 2011. The total net book value of the company's investment property was £26.3m, almost £11m down on the previous year.

No details of the properties that make up the portfolio were included in the accounts.

The accounts also show that creditors are owed £35.2m, leaving net liabilities at the year end of £1.96m, and that Montpellier made a loss of £1.04m over the year, compared to a £80,639 profit the previous year.

The accounts state that Montpellier completed a three year refinancing arrangement with Royal Bank of Scotland, reducing its net borrowings by £3m.

A spokeswoman for Montpellier Estates said that because of the ongoing Leeds Arena litigation the company did not wish to comment on the accounts. Ms Fletcher has brought a High Court deceit action over the multi-million pound Leeds Arena project. The allegations against Leeds City Council are set to be heard during a seven week case which is listed to commence at the High Court, London on October 1. Montpellier Estates is claiming for 'damages in respect of alleged false representations made by the Council, its employees and/or agents to Montpellier Estates to enter and continue to take part in a public procurement exercise run by the Council for the development of an arena'. Both Montpellier, which wanted to build the arena on land at Sweet Street, and developer GMI, which submitted plans for the scheme at Elland Road, saw their proposals overlooked for a site in Claypit Lane in Leeds, despite the Council never having previously said the location was under consideration.

Outline planning approval was granted earlier this year for a major office, leisure and residential scheme on the Sweet Street site by Montpellier Estates.

Ms Fletcher also runs the Rougemont Estates property syndication business, which has invested more than £25m.

c/o TheBusinessDesk.com, 18 Sep 2012