More on the proposals for the northern end of Quarry Hill, reported in today's planning applications list:


Reference
08/06093/FU/C

Applicant
Leeds Property Ltd

Description
Multi level development up to 14 storeys, comprising offices, fitness centre and shop with 13 storeys of car parking in two phases

Location
Junction of Eastgate and New York Road, Quarry Hill, Leeds

Agent
White Young Green Planning And Design
FAO Hannah Smeed
Arndale Court
Headingley
Leeds
LS6 2UJ

Ward
City & Hunslet

^^ that's the application relating to the render you posted above....., or is it for the site directly behind it? I think the render above is a hotel / office scheme. Could be wrong, tend to loose track rapidly these days.

The 'Leeds properties' part of Quarry Hill is the main item at next weeks plans panel, discussing both the office/car park and the two hotels, one 4 star one 2 star.

Hotels report

http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/Published/C00000173/M00003557/AI00017542/0704522FU.pdf

Car park

http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/Published/C00000173/M00003557/AI00017543/0806093FU.pdf

One of the reports also makes reference to the long awaited redevelopment of Playhouse Square. (which is to include the China Gate that was supposed to be installed by now I believe!) It notes John Thorpe is working up the design.

Developer is Leeds Property Ltd, hotel operator is Hilton.

Subject to the huge "if" of the developers finding the funding for this project, it could be one of very few major private-sector projects to start construction in the next year or two. Thanks in part to Gormless Gordon trashing the pound, the hotel sector is one of the few robust performers and the arena will only add to demand. The car park shouldn't be short of customers either which just leaves the casino - how many casinos can the city take? The developers and hotel chain may take the view that this can stand on its own two feet even if Eastgate stays on the back-burner.

I think the city can take a good few more casinos actually, but with one condition- that is transport. Things like casinos and bars will be able to prosper in Leeds if some degree of night transport is provided. There are few night rail/bus services at the moment, most people having to use taxis. From about 2300 onwards, Leeds can't rely on it's city region- not even on many of its outer suburbs to bring the money in at the moment. People can't drive to these venues usually because they will want to drink alcohol. So I think there will have to be an addition to the medium term transport plan for more night transport to enable developments like Quarry Hill to succeed.

The reports state quite a few criticisms- including some about the frontage and the way it will create a traffic canyon with John Lewis, as well as creating a shadowy Playhouse Square. I've always thought that this massing of building that creates dominance over the streets adds to the atmosphere of a city. And how would they address it anyway? The only way is to have lower buildings.

Feature on the BBC website on the urban myth that the DWP / DoH building Quarry House was built back to front. I couldn't get the Real Player link to work is there any indication of what happened. http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2009/03/09/places_quarry_house_urban_myth_feature.shtml

BBC Radio Leeds features
You are in: Leeds > BBC Radio Leeds > BBC Radio Leeds features > In reverse order

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/images/2009/03/09/quarry_house_model_203_203x152.jpg
The original model for Quarry House
In reverse order
After hearing the possibility that Quarry House in Leeds was built back-to-front, BBC Radio Leeds' Graham Liver decided to investigate in his Urban Myths strand.

You've all heard stories that at first seem ridiculous, then possible, then even plausible and before you know it the story has become 'fact'. This is how urban myths work - a giant game of Chinese Whispers where the difference between fact and fiction can become blurred.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/images/2009/03/09/plans_180_180x150.jpg
The original plans
BBC Radio Leeds' Graham Liver, who hosts the mid-morning show, is now investigating some of these myths as they relate to West Yorkshire, and the latest to undergo Graham's strict research was a tale that has been circulating for a few years that Quarry House in Leeds, which houses the Department of Work & Pensions on the site of the old Quarry Hill flats, was actually built back-to-front - a comical error most people are willing to believe as it would leave egg on the faces of local government.

The original Quarry Hill flats were completed in 1938, but lasted only 40 years as poor construction techniques and the lack of desire to maintain a living population in city centres led to its demolition in 1978.

The first developments on the site came in the form of the new West Yorkshire Playhouse in 1990 and Quarry House which was officially opened in 1993. Recent years have seen the building of the Leeds College of Music and the BBC Yorkshire building, and further developments are in the pipeline.

Graham Liver talked to Phil Morcam, press officer for the Department of Work & Pensions about the tale and asked him to confirm or deny the story:

Well it certainly almost sounds like bull to me. Wasn't there also an urban myth that Quarry Hill flats would have been apparently Hitlers base in Britain had he won WW2 (although of course there were many, many other urban myths regarding sites such as most obviously London and possibly Blackpool should that had occured (and thank god it didn't).

Going back to Quarry House was it always the (I think) Terry Farrell scheme for that site as it was certainly a big shame imo that instead of a huge ground scaper it would surely have been better to have one or two tall buildings at this end of town which would presumably have acted a bit more of a magnet at encouraging investment to this end of town, although I presume Leeds City Council's then anti-tall buildings policy would have probably put paid to anything tall on that site and surely Quarry House does have the effect at blocking off the deprived Burmantofts area from the city centre.

I have to say that although the Kremlin is often described as 'bland' it's still quite impressive in its size, on more than one occasion I've been coming into Leeds from Edinburgh and heard people commenting on how huge it is. I think that as well as having tall buildings at gateway locations it's good to have a 'groundscraper' as well. There can't be many cities that have buildings that size (apart from arenas etc..)

Feature on the BBC website on the urban myth that the DWP / DoH building Quarry House was built back to front. I couldn't get the Real Player link to work is there any indication of what happened. http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2009/03/09/places_quarry_house_urban_myth_feature.shtml



Well it certainly almost sounds like bull to me. Wasn't there also an urban myth that Quarry Hill flats would have been apparently Hitlers base in Britain had he won WW2 (although of course there were many, many other urban myths regarding sites such as most obviously London and possibly Blackpool should that had occured (and thank god it didn't).

Going back to Quarry House was it always the (I think) Terry Farrell scheme for that site as it was certainly a big shame imo that instead of a huge ground scaper it would surely have been better to have one or two tall buildings at this end of town which would presumably have acted a bit more of a magnet at encouraging investment to this end of town, although I presume Leeds City Council's then anti-tall buildings policy would have probably put paid to anything tall on that site and surely Quarry House does have the effect at blocking off the deprived Burmantofts area from the city centre.

Id agree about the blocking off of Burmantofts but the area was cut adrift a while ago,with the widening of York Road,the demolition of the housing around old St Marys church and then finally the bulldozing of Quarry Hill.
The latter was the big one.

The population of Quarry Hill really did add to the whole town centre.

Heres a link to a 1970s program called Queenies Castle,starring Diana Dors and set in Quarry Hill flats.
Just look at the market and all the people using it,just as i remember it as a kid,buzzing,full of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVVl3m4Aarc

Well, despite the recession, Leeds Properties are pushing ahead with their proposals for Quarry Hill. There are two planning applications being considered at this Thursday's meeting of the City Centre Plans Panel:


the first is for two hotels (up to 13 storeys) with 328 rooms between them, 67 serviced flats, casino, 30,000 sq foot of bars and restaurants, and 147 basement parking spaces (see here (http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/Published/C00000173/M00003559/AI00018579/0704522Qhill.pdf) for the paper)
the second is for 215,000 sq ft of offices over 14 storeys, a gym, and multi-story car parking (see here (http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/Published/C00000173/M00003559/AI00018581/0806093QH.pdf) for the paper)


Taken together, this would be a pretty huge proposal at the best of times. In the current economic climate, it looks quixotic. However, from reading the papers, it seems as though access to funding for the work might not be the most immediate of the developers' problems. Both the Civic Trust and Caddick Developments have weighed in with considerable objections to the proposals.

For those who are confused about which bit of Quarry Hill this relates to, it's basically all the land to the left of the steps as you walk up to the Playhouse and it goes back as far as the front of Quarry House.

What are they concerned about? There is little to offend architecturally in this area, and the design of the buildings looks to be high quality.

Construction of the ballet theatre is due to start week beginning 6th April.

It got the go-ahead but not everybody's happy.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Approval-for-Leeds-39dog39s-dinner39.5120727.jp


Approval for Leeds 'dog's dinner' hotel scheme

30 March 2009
By Laura Bowyer

Councillors have given the green light to build a new multi-level hotel on Quarry Hill, despite objections from Leeds Civic Trust which labelled the scheme a 'dog's dinner'.
The ambitious building could be up to 13 storeys high with a casino, bars, restaurants and basement car parking.

It would include a high quality and budget hotel with 203 four-star rooms and 125 two-star rooms, the council's city centre plans paneADVERTISEMENTl heard.

The four-star hotel will also include a restaurant, lobby bar, coffee shop, ballroom for 500 people, health spa and a selection of meeting rooms.

In addition there will be around 67 serviced apartments and basement car parking for 147, including 15 disabled spaces.

But the plans were not universally liked.

Coun Graham Latty (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon) said he felt the hotel's curved roof looked like "the back of a big grey elephant" but overall he thought the new plan was "super".

Coun James Monaghan (Lib Dem, Headingley) said that he didn't think that this scheme would be a prestige development and it would make people feel like they were in a canyon.

Councillors also gave the go-ahead to build an office and fitness centre with 13 storeys of parking behind the hotel at the junction of Eastgate and New York Road.

There will be 339 public parking spaces, including 20 for the disabled.
A report to the panel said that the hotels and other leisure facilities will compliment the existing cultural facilities at the site.

It has been developed with full consideration of its impact on the surrounding area.

The plan also highlights that it would be a key element in the development of this part of the city centre.

However, in a letter to planners, Leeds Civic Trust objected to the scheme and said: "The Trust wishes to maintain its very strong objection to this application in view of its over-intensive character, its design and its premature nature with respect to plans for the wider public realm.

"In its present form the scheme is an unattractive and extremely poorly laid out 'dog's dinner' which the city would rapidly come to view as a mistake, especially in regard to the major defects of its public realm."

At the meeting, senior planning officer Rob Buchan said: "Not everyone will like this particular scheme and we feel we have achieved an awful lot and what we have achieved here is beneficial to the area as a whole and not detrimental."

Full planning permission will be granted by planning officers once a number of conditions and legal agreements have been made.


Last Updated: 30 March 2009 9:05 AM
Source: n/a
Location: Leeds

It got the go-ahead but not everybody's happy.

So I guess Kevin Grady won't be loking for an invitation to the opening of the casino.

A 'dog's dinner' ..

:ohno:

Looks pretty swish to me, with its unique and striking curved roofline ..

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1039QuarryHillHotel_pic3.jpg

Image borrowed off www.skyscarpernews.com, but the original can be seen on www.fairhursts.com/

I think the buildings cladding will make or break the development. If they use some high quality cladding it will look ok on the otherhand, use cheap cladding and the Civic Trust opinion that "the city would rapidly come to view as a mistake" wont be far wrong.

It's a fantastic, striking design- I love it. I don't see how anyone can object to it. There's a full glass frontage onto what will be Blomfield Square which looks good and will provide good street interaction where it's needed.

Well looking at that render there doesn't appear to be that much ground floor interaction with Eastgate which in my view is always a very bad thing at encouraging the city centre to spread out and having a living city centre full of active shop frontages as opposed to just blank walls. Also I always thought this proposal certainly to me looks a lot like the old Quarry Hill flats which had occupied the same site until the end of the 1970s and I guess having the render taken at a purplish night in relatively low resoution would make it not particularly clear as to whether this scheme is A* or U grade?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/455483009_dea9ddd893_o.jpg

Are there any renders of this scheme taken from any other vantage points and presumably despite gaining planning permission then this scheme would be put on ice until the economy improves anyway I guess? How much land would be left at Quarry Hill if this proposal was built considering it has been 31 years this year since those old flats were demolished?

Usually I am more concerned about street interaction, but here I am not. It is important there is street interaction on The Headrow (or what will be the extension of it's axis) side, but the side pictured is only a major road feeding the city centre. It's never going to have a lot of footfall. This short stretch of road is destined to become a traffic canyon after Eastgate is complete as John Lewis will have it's back to the road.

A 'dog's dinner' ..

:ohno:

Looks pretty swish to me, with its unique and striking curved roofline ..

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1039QuarryHillHotel_pic3.jpg

Image borrowed off www.skyscarpernews.com, but the original can be seen on www.fairhursts.com/


Frankly i like this an awful lot,well certainly from this particular render.

These additional images were posted in #125 above. I've deleted the familiar Eastgate view which was also posted.

Thanks for those 5th Elevation, brilliant images I'd say ...


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http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa74/welcome1-rob/QuarryHill2.jpg?t=1185190803

Aerial view of Playhouse Square, from the south-east
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http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa74/welcome1-rob/QuarryHill3.jpg?t=1185190833

Aerial view, from the south-west


All courtesy of Fairhursts Design Group, dated June 2007.

To me it looks like good quality architecture incorporating good public spaces as part of a wider city masterplan. There is little to complain about with the development; the height is appropriate for the area and there is glass frontage with entrances/exits to the important pedestrian spaces.

I honestly can't see what the Civic Trust are banging on about unless they've seen some less flattering renders or poor quality samples of the materials to be used. From what I can see this looks great. :)

Well, if their website is anything to go by, their design standards are below that of Opal! They're just a load of conservative English Heritage members who want to stall the progress of the city in order to preserve everything. Sometimes you get to the point where things have to move on. And it's not like this site has anything to preserve anyway; unless they particularly like brownfield sites.

Love it Love it Love it... I do agree however the cladding is the make or break.. really dont see what civic trust are moaning about. This is really going to spruce up the area, what with St Peters Square and Leeds Music college etc. Cant wait for it to start..

It's a fairly bland design but what can you expect in these times and that location tbh? The Civic Trust shouldn't be dismissed however - whilst they do tend to campaign against almost everything, it's important to have some counterbalance to prevent 60s style wholescale demolitions, and they're right to be worried when you look at some of the utter crap built in the last ten years or so...

You're right. Developers dedicate their lives to coming up with brilliant schemes just to improve our cities and the lives of their inhabitants, then those horrible little ingrates amongst the general public come along with their contradictory opinions. How dare they? Just desperate for their 15 minutes of fame and maybe a quick buck from the newspaper. Not like those poor, oppressed, public spirited to a fault developers. Sometimes, these evil, Tory, English Heritage members even oppose a scheme on the grounds that involves the destruction of a superior/important old building. Don't these people realise that things change? What use is history when there's another block of lego needing to go up to ensure those selfless, lefty, poverty-stricken developers can eat tonight.

Flog em outside the Playhouse, that'll teach em.

I think the buildings cladding will make or break the development. If they use some high quality cladding it will look ok on the otherhand, use cheap cladding and the Civic Trust opinion that "the city would rapidly come to view as a mistake" wont be far wrong.


According to the appraisal papers for this, the plinth is to be clad in natural stone with composite granite panels to the upper storeys and copper cladding on the Playhouse Square frontages.

The Civic Trust shouldn't be dismissed however - whilst they do tend to campaign against almost everything, it's important to have some counterbalance to prevent 60s style wholescale demolitions

But who's going to take them seriously when they're concerned with preserving such things as 'the familiar frontage' of Elland Rd's 15 yr old East Stand

It seems to me as though they're presented with plans and then look for ways to object. They better not receive any public funding

We could just keep the site as a gravel pit car park for another 32 years!

Design looks great. If the news about the materials is correct then the finish should be good. I agree that the interaction with street level on the Eastgate side doesn't look great, but this is a major traffic route and the interaction on the other sides looks much more open.

Always agreed with Val Verde's view that it looks a bit like the old flats, which is no bad thing in a way.

The Civic Trust have a very important role to play, but need to be careful that the public sees them in a positive light. Objecting to a major development which appears to have some architectural merit during a time of recession while defending the architecture of Elland Road seems an obscure way of defending the city's heritage, particularly since Quarry Hill has been an eyesore for so long.

I just love the curvatiousness, not just the roof but the Eastgate frontage curving right round, however if I was nit picking, i'd want to know about how the cladding fills in between the top floor and the curved roof, perhaps this would look better if the cladding continued up smoothly to fill the gap between the top floor and the roof line with flush cladding, so the stepping of the top floors isn't visible.

I don't like to have a prod at the civic trust, particularly as I know they have members on this forum and their hearts are in the right place, but they do seem to comment on almost every single development that they are 'over-intensive', they said the same about the Portland Place hotel, they say it about almost every city centre proposal. I would just like to point out the obvious fact that they seem to be missing - Leeds is a big city now!!!, intensive building schemes are the norm for the centre of a big city such as Leeds, a trip to London or other big European cities will demonstrate this.

And to add to that, intensive building isn't necessarily bad. It creates a different atmosphere, that can be just as pleasant (usually more pleasant in Leeds where it often concerns brownfield sites) than the previous one. They seem to be concerned with preserving Leeds as it was 30 years ago and hanging on to all of it's industrial roots. Now that it's a major commercial city with citizens who are wanting something different to the residents of Leeds 30 years ago, they should be supporting projects with innovative architecture that will bring facilities the citizens want.

Well, if their website is anything to go by, their design standards are below that of Opal! They're just a load of conservative English Heritage members who want to stall the progress of the city in order to preserve everything. Sometimes you get to the point where things have to move on. And it's not like this site has anything to preserve anyway; unless they particularly like brownfield sites.

Theres nowt to preserve on that site anymore.

They would probably have been against the digusting Victorian slums that occupied the site being cleared to make way for Quarry Hill Flats.

Im no expert in all this,but i know what i like when i see it,and i like it.

Love it...its a striking design for a landmark position overlooking the IRR and will be a great addition to the eastern end of the city centre, hopefully with Eastgate next door one day.

It's a very dramatic render (the evening one). That aside...can't decide if I like the design or not. Shouldn't it be more permeable and help create links under the flyover? Aren't there a number of developments proposed for the north side of York Rd? This development would just present a huge wall to any pedestrians approaching from that direction.

On the other hand I like the random windows on the plinth and how it opens up at the corner. And it'd be great for something to finally be built on the site.

What's with the spire though?! Trying to outdo the Kremlin?

I don't think that the design would work without the spire. It will create a good, attractive vista down The Headrow too.

You've raised a good point about closing the city off to the north. Yes, there are developments on the north side of the ring road. Eastgate and the West Properties towers seemed to plan to create strong links between both sides. Unfortunately this development at Quarry Hill doesn't, but I don't want to criticise what is a good design for a site desperate for development.

I don't know how the hostile, traffic dominated environment around the A61/IRR junction could be sorted out either. Or at least not without major remodelling.

Theres nowt to preserve on that site anymore.

They would probably have been against the digusting Victorian slums that occupied the site being cleared to make way for Quarry Hill Flats.

Im no expert in all this,but i know what i like when i see it,and i like it.

Wouldn't this be quite a fair objection given that many of the so called disgusting slums would nowadays be regarded as quite the characterful residential areas? How exactly did the Quarry Hill flats not resemble disgusting slums, certainly of a lower build quality and architectural design. As for the current site, I have no objections given there's nothing really there at present, and what is proposed doesn't look too bad, nothing sensational but of a decent build quality. Some of the upper parts of the development don't look quite as high quality as some of the lower though, perhaps a little simplified and harder to tell what the material will be from the render. That curvaceous metal roof looks a bit odd to me as well. Nothing wrong with an interesting roof, but I think metal is the wrong material.

I tend to look at development scheme by scheme, this one I view mostly positively given it's replacing car parks and some grass. If it were to replace Art Deco, Edwardian, Victorian or older architecture, you can be sure I wouldn't look too fondly on it, especially knowing modern day build quality and the cost of some of these old buildings in today's labour.

I get the impression the Eastgate scheme involves demolition of some of the built architecture. Would I be right?

You are right about Eastgate, unfortunate particularly in the case of the old factory-turned-Chinese shops, though I'm not sure about the old houses on Quarry Hill being characterful residential areas. They were not like anything you would see today, demolished by the 1920s in slum clearances which, along with a few photos and info I have seen, suggests they were pretty nasty places to live.

The Quarry Hill flats were built in the 1930s to quite an interesting layout from what pics I have seen, and offered without much difficulty a better standard of living than the previous houses. I've also heard it claimed they were the largest such complex in Europe, modelled on a Viennese complex. They were demolished due to structural and other problems. My grandad likes to make himself feel old by relating his remembering of them being built and demolished...

Actually, this (http://www.leeds.gov.uk/discover/discovery.asp?page=20031110_71880520&topic=2003128_167034328&subsection=2003128_833248318&subsubsection=200415_510952175) link should be of interest.

Leeds is a big city now!!!

I think this is a very good point. I think many people think that Leeds city center is much smaller than it is, due to the compactness of the retail area.

I often hear that Manchester is so much bigger than Leeds (I'm not trying to start the whole LDS Vs. MANC thing here) but honestly i know Deansgate is a long street, but how many people have walked from Quarry Hill to Wellington Place or from Bridgewater to the Hyde Park etc. I KNOW Manchester city center is bigger, but is it really THAT much bigger. If Leeds had its shopping spread out throughout all the areas, a'la Manchester then it would feel just as big. Anyway, My point is, if this development was proposed in Manchester I bet nobody would bat an eyelid. The Civic Trust need to update their views...

My record walking from the Uni (Parkinson Building) to City station is 29 minutes. It's much further than it looks on a map!

^^ thats coz u have little dinky legs :tongue2:

My record walking from the Uni (Parkinson Building) to City station is 29 minutes. It's much further than it looks on a map!

Were you up Parkinson Tower at the time? Or were you locked inside for ten minutes before actually setting off?

It's a near-straight line route of 1.1 miles! That's 25 minutes at ambling pace for an old woman.

29 minutes is a long time. did you stop off for a couple of pints aswel? haha!

Well I did have a bag on... You try it. It's not as short as you think it is. I'm a fast walker, it would take the average person about 5-10mins more.

I walked from LGI to Eastgate and it took me like 25mins, so i agree with LN1 on this one.. Just because its only 1.1m, doesnt mean its as short as it sounds..

I'm with LN1 on this one, and I'm about 6 foot 3 and a very fast walker. The amount of times I've walked into Leeds from Headingley to catch a train in the city centre and underestimated the time it takes to walk from the Parkinson building area and almost missed my train is ridiculous!

Yes, thankyou. It is much further than you think- especially when you are in a rush to catch a train. You think that Millennium Square is a short walk from the station, but it's actually a good 10 minutes at best too. People under-estimate how large the city centre really is.

I can't compare time for time from the Parkinson building but I regularly walk from my home in Headingley (near Beckett's Park) to town and it rarely takes me more than 40-45 minutes to get to Briggate. Admittedly I am a fast walker, especially when alone, but even so I can't imagine it takes more than 20 mins at the outside...

40 minutes is quick! However, perhaps thinking again, 20 minutes does sound about right. It's still more than you expect, I think.

I walk from Camden to Kensington for work each day, 5 ish miles and it takes me 40-45 minutes. That said I do overtake joggers while I'm walking!

Subliving.

What route did you take LN1? I used to work down by Bridgewater tower and it took me 40 minutes to walk from Hyde Park.

I would guess that I have done Parkinson to Station in 15 minutes. Hero.

It's not longer than we think. 1.1 miles = 1.1 miles. I've walked it countless times. I walked from the Wetherspoons in the station to Walkabout last week in under ten minutes (admittedly I wanted another pint, but I was in no rush). That's just under half the distance of Parkinson Tower.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4339/routekna.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4339/routekna.jpg

where on this picture is the quarry hill development? could somebody outline it please:)

Quarry Hill :tongue2: , on the only spare bit of land on it. All that grass next to Eastgate roundabout.

Seeing that above picture is kind of depressing, Leeds city centre has barely any greenery apart from the northern outskirts.
Could the car park next to the city market not be turned into a park? Would it be viable?

I think it probably could be, but if Eastgate is developed there, that will incorporate green space into Blomfield Square.

The redevelopment of the Markets might free up some space for green.

I've said before though that cities need to start using space more efficiently. We can't wait for a site to be redeveloped every time we want change in a city. Some buildings should have accessible grassed roofs- most of the shopping centre have flat roofs anyway.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4339/routekna.jpg

Im glad i dont ask you for directions.

you seem to love taking the dog legged route,remember your suggestion for the best route from the station to the arena,a very similar one to this,i belive it was agreed that the best rout would be down Albion Place and up New Station Street.

You can tell your not from Leeds:lol:

Seeing that above picture is kind of depressing, Leeds city centre has barely any greenery apart from the northern outskirts.
Could the car park next to the city market not be turned into a park? Would it be viable?

Maybe so,but we have more park land than anywhere else in Europe except for Vienna.

Maybe thats why we dont have so much greenery in the centre,as welcome as it would be.

To go up Albion Place makes hardly any difference- infact would be an even longer route to go to the Parkinson Building.

I have to go via Millennium Square as it happens anyway.

Do we mean Albion Street? Albion Place seems like a strange diversion to either place...

I love the attention to detail in that map. Look how he accounts for the pedestrian crossing on the Headrow

That's the route I'd take too

Do we mean Albion Street? Albion Place seems like a strange diversion to either place...

OOOOPs,shows you how well i really know Leeds doesnt it:bash::bash::nuts:

Work gets under way on the new dance theatre. Good to have some more actual construction work to talk about! :banana::banana::banana:

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Work-starts-on-12m-dance.5183533.jp

Work starts on £12m dance centre for Leeds

http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED//TH1_204200941stock2.jpg

Quarry Hill, Leeds

20 April 2009
By Vicki Robinson
Work was today getting under way on a long-awaited £12m new dance centre for Leeds.

The biggest centre of its kind outside London, the building will be the new home of the prestigious city-based companies Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance Company.

It will be the first time either dance company – which together have been in existence for almost 70 years – has had a dedicated home of its own.

The new centre is being built at Quarry Hill, near to the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the College of Music and will also help to cement that part of the city as a new "cultural quarter".

And as the first ground was broken today, the partners behind the project revealed that all but £500,000 of the funding required had now been secured.

The centre is being paid for with £10.5m from Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Forward and the lottery-funded Arts Council. The companies themselves were charged with finding the remaining £1.5m.

Today, they revealed that more than £1m of that total had already flooded in through public donations. Contributors include Leeds Metropolitan University and audiences at Leeds Grand Theatre.

Mark Skipper, chief executive of the Northern Ballet Theatre, said: "NBT has had a nomadic existence.

"We moved from Manchester, where the company was founded in 1969, to Halifax, and finally to Leeds.

"Our current headquarters in West Park were intended as temporary accommodation with a view always to creating a purpose-built home for the company.

"We can hardly believe we have reached the point where work is starting on site. I can confidently speak on behalf of everyone at NBT and Phoenix when I express our thanks to all the people who have helped make this dream a reality."

Coun Andrew Carter, Leader of Leeds City Council, added: "I am delighted to see work finally start on this excellent building which will put Leeds on the map as a national and international centre of excellence for dance, and provide a fitting home for our two renowned dance companies."

Due for completion in summer 2010, the new six-storey centre will feature dance studios, a small-scale theatre, a performance area, changing rooms, meeting rooms, stores and offices.

It will also host a classical dance school and provide dance degree courses.

The Northern Ballet Theatre is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary while Phoenix, a contemporary dance company, is in its 28th year.

Best news in a long time.:)

Best news in a long time.:)

Agreed.

Well it is certainly good news to see work on the Leeds Dance Centre finally commence considering it would be another cultural asset when it opens. Is there any chance of pics from the construction site and as a reminder here are some pics showing this development some of which im not sure have been posted on here before.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/468xAny/l/y/b/NBT_ready.jpg

http://www.northernballettheatre.co.uk/images/blog/buildingmontage2.jpg

http://www.phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk/media/building.jpg

Does anyone know what the history was behind the Quarry Hill area in the last 10 years. It seems to be a load of seperate car parks, all in poor condition, with no links from one to the other

There is a square roundabout in front of Quarry House but this seems to have been blocked off by concrete barriers for years for no particular reason

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=syzqddgw51p7&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=22090887&encType=1

It was part of a development plan by Fosters (I think) which was to be completed by 1994, but is only now beginning to actually become a reality. Theres still a sign on the stairs heading to the Playhouse describing the development. The current car parks were only meant to be 'interim' lasting a few years, but are still here 15 years later!

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6174/leeds131.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=leeds131.jpg)
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/leeds131.jpg/1/w2048.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img301/leeds131.jpg/1/)

If a masterplan had been drawn that long ago, why was the Playhouse so clumisly built? I don't mean in terms of the design itself, but you can see how the northern corner of it breaks into the clearly defined boulevard which is now described as part of the Headrow axis.

If a masterplan had been drawn that long ago, why was the Playhouse so clumisly built? I don't mean in terms of the design itself, but you can see how the northern corner of it breaks into the clearly defined boulevard which is now described as part of the Headrow axis.


I think that's because the building of the Playhouse pre-dated the Quarry Hill masterplan.

hoardings around the site,large drill and some cabins for the dance centre site.

whoo hoo, construction action at last.

http://www.dlgarchitects.com/upload/work/img/hCsDxuShgFDqaUBdimwFyP8Caf8XTQTZQHTVMJOj.jpeg

Reference
07/04522/FU/C

Applicant
Leeds Property Ltd

Description
Multi level hotel development up to 13 storeys, with, casino, bars/restaurants and basement car parking

Location
Quarry Hill
Eastgate
Leeds
LS9 8AW

Decision
Approved

Decision Date
07/08/09

and

Reference
08/06093/FU/C

Applicant
Leeds Property Ltd

Description
Multi level development upto 14 storeys, comprising offices, fitness centre and shop with 13 storeys of car parking in two phases

Location
Junction Of Eastgate And New York Road
Quarry Hill
Leeds

Decision
Approved

Decision Date
07/08/09

See here (http://plandocs.leeds.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=08/06093/FU) for a whole load of renders.

Excellent.

Just looked through the renders. It looks good as long as Phase 2 goes ahead as planned on the office/car park block. I'll be dissapointed if Phase 1 is built (which is rather average) but Phase 2 didn't. Phase 2 must be built for the project to work.

Could someone try to upload some of the renders coz my computer doesn't seem to like that website much

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9192/quarryhill.jpg

Sorry to say it, but this is decades out of date in terms of its design and its approach to creating a new piece of city. It's an office park on steroids that makes Whitehall Riverside look quite modest and interesting. Its good news that things are potentially moving again but this is a key site that deserves something so much better.

I see where you're coming from but I don't completely agree.

These two buildings are not on the core Headrow axis on Quarry Hill, so I never really was expecting anything more than an 'office park' like Whitehall Riverside.

I quite like the simple designs generally, but I'm not keen on the green colour of the car park. Having said that, I think the car park itself has been well integrated into the building and doesn't look like a MSCP.

The buildings will add a good amount of needed mass and density at Quarry Hill which will hopefully help to heal the lost city fabric in this area. There's a lack of street interaction which could create a hostile environment at street level, but I don't see this as a problem here. It's not a busy pedestrian thoroughfare and is unlikely ever to be one.

Lankee, what sort of building (or not a building?) would you prefer on the site?

The designs have certainly gone down in my estimation after seeing these new renders. That wavy green part is quite nasty and the other parts seem to present too much of a blank facade. It seems it's curvy to the outside of the development and looks good there, but is blocky on the other, looking more like a back end in parts. Having said that though, that wavy green part appears on both sides of that building it seems. Sure this wasn't how it was designed before. Another pointless redesign then? Also the whole thing could definitely do with more street level interaction.

Yeah it's a bit different to the previous design I think. The blocky side is probably like that though because of the future development on Quarry Hill.

The designs have certainly gone down in my estimation after seeing these new renders. That wavy green part is quite nasty and the other parts seem to present too much of a blank facade. It seems it's curvy to the outside of the development and looks good there, but is blocky on the other, looking more like a back end in parts. Having said that though, that wavy green part appears on both sides of that building it seems. Sure this wasn't how it was designed before. Another pointless redesign then? Also the whole thing could definitely do with more street level interaction.

I definately agree with the points you made Dan it certainly isn't of any note considering it's very generic looks (with nods to the previous Quarry Hill flats which were demolished 30 years ago) and is rather disapointing imo especially the lack of street level interaction. So is this scheme on the backburner until the economy starts growing again or is this actually going to start construction soon?

well at least there's a few new renders. This isn't the Caddick development is it? Its the Metroholst scheme that we've been hoping for for ages. so this is the hotel / conference centre and the multistorey carpark bit, right next to York Road?

.....and is rather disapointing imo especially the lack of street level interaction.....

Any chance of a reality check here? Do you have any idea of the footfall along New York Road (hint: it's a slip road)?

My dad just told me they are building a new skyscraper behind wardrobe!!!

I think he meant the dance centre, apparantly a crane and core have appeared.

Anyone confirm either way?

Yes there is definitely a core there- I saw it when I was in town the other day. I can't actually remember if there was a crane or not :S

My dad just told me they are building a new skyscraper behind wardrobe!!!

I think he meant the dance centre, apparantly a crane and core have appeared.

Anyone confirm either way?

deary me! Nothing like youthful optimism.

I drove past the bbc today and noticed that behind it theres actually quite a large core rising out of the ground, is that the new opera north/ northern ballet school?

I drove past the bbc today and noticed that behind it theres actually quite a large core rising out of the ground, is that the new opera north/ northern ballet school?

Opera North have their own premises next to the Grand Theatre. What you see on Quarry Hill is the new home of the Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance. This development has its own website here (http://www.building-momentum.co.uk/index.aspx).

It's the Ballet School.

Taking shape

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3149/dancg.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/dancg.jpg/)

I saw Christa Ackroyd going into the BBC studio just after this was taken, thankfully a more pleasant sight than that of the large rat I saw in HUV earlier.....

Just looked over the floor plans for Momentum, It looks like an asset to the city...

I saw Christa Ackroyd going into the BBC studio just after this was taken, thankfully a more pleasant sight than that of the large rat I saw in HUV earlier.....

Eurgh Christa Ackroyd? She should be a hairdresser, not a TV presenter. I'd rather go out with the rat.

Eurgh Christa Ackroyd? She should be a hairdresser, not a TV presenter. I'd rather go out with the rat.

I hope I look like her when I'm that age. Or something. Actually, having looked at several regional 6.30 news slots this summer, I reckon that she and Harry are about the best team.:banana::banana::banana:

I find it all just a little bit too patronising and stereotypically northern. I don't like the way it's so light hearted and the presenters are constantly teasing each other. Call me boring but I'd prefer if it was just done in a little more professional and serious manner, like Newsroom South East say.

I find it all just a little bit too patronising and stereotypically northern. I don't like the way it's so light hearted and the presenters are constantly teasing each other. Call me boring but I'd prefer if it was just done in a little more professional and serious manner, like Newsroom South East say.

I get the impression the production team are not really up to speed on the minutiae of current political issues so they turn it into a protracted comedy sketch between the newsreaders and that irritaing arse who does the weather.
I once did work experience as a 16 year old at the BBC on Woodhouse Lane, and I distinctly remember one of the newsreaders Mike McCarthy s******ing at me in a meeting simply because a.) I was a teenager, and b.) he was trying to impress the women in the office. What an immature, ignorant prick he was.

My parents get the Newcastle Look North, and despite its alarming overreliance on sport, it's much more professional.

s******ing at me in a meeting


Lol. It seems that word has been starred because it suffers from the Scunthorpe syndrome of having inappropriate words hidden within perfectly acceptable ones. Although no doubt AlbionFagan will pop up to cite it as another example of Leeds' heinous racism.

Lol. It seems that word has been starred because it suffers from the Scunthorpe syndrome of having inappropriate words hidden within perfectly acceptable ones. Although no doubt AlbionFagan will pop up to cite it as another example of Leeds' heinous racism.

I'm scared to question what that word was (O_o)

Eurgh Christa Ackroyd? She should be a hairdresser, not a TV presenter. I'd rather go out with the rat.

Could be worse, could be Look North's sports correspondent lady with the voice of a man!

Could be worse, could be Look North's sports correspondent lady with the voice of a man!

haha Yorkshire's answer to Semenya :banana:

haha Yorkshire's answer to Semenya :banana:

When she was at York Races (when they hosted Royal Ascot) and she was on Look North live with Clare Balding it was possibly the most macho thing on TV.

Seriously, I thought I was going to have my head stoved in just watching it.

I can't believe Tanya and Christa are being ragged. I was brought up with Judith Stamper as the only regional-broadcast-news-totty-candidate

I quite like Tanya's man-voice and Christa's an angel, with awesome tits

I can't figure out Di Livio's censored word.

Snig-gering

I once met Tanya Arnold outside Milan Cathedral before we played AC in the Champions League. What a day that was...:cheers:

Snig-gering

Ahhh

who's the lady from ITV Calendar? She's not bad in an older woman sort of way...

I once met Tanya Arnold outside Milan Cathedral before we played AC in the Champions League. What a day that was...:cheers:

What position did she play ?

What position did she play ?

That's between me and her and I won't be discussing the matter further. :lol:

What about Look North Weather Presenter (usually does weekends and cover for Paul Hudson or Lisa Gallager) Keeley Donovan who's certainly very attractive imo when she seemed to be on Look North a lot more during the summer holidays?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_khnBA58ed2k/Sizxk7RYsCI/AAAAAAAAHOo/nY2Xh9GEhhw/s400/kd2.JPG

On another note I did see Paul Hudson and Transport Correspondant Alan Whitehouse in person when in Leeds City Centre.

Lisa & Keeley - doesn't get much better!

Think they're rich too being on the TV???

Lisa & Keeley - doesn't get much better! :yes:

Ballet Theatre latest
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/harrydphotos/IMG_1666.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/harrydphotos/IMG_1667.jpg

I am a fan of the little development across the road
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/harrydphotos/IMG_1665.jpg

And why is this plot behind the Wardrobe still derelict?
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/harrydphotos/IMG_1668.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/harrydphotos/IMG_1670.jpg

What about Look North Weather Presenter (usually does weekends and cover for Paul Hudson or Lisa Gallager) Keeley Donovan who's certainly very attractive imo when she seemed to be on Look North a lot more during the summer holidays?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_khnBA58ed2k/Sizxk7RYsCI/AAAAAAAAHOo/nY2Xh9GEhhw/s400/kd2.JPG

On another note I did see Paul Hudson and Transport Correspondant Alan Whitehouse in person when in Leeds City Centre.

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/73/0fdrmfscubz7.jpg
- Becky Mantin.

- Becky Mantin.

But which one's better? There's only one way to find out!
FFFFFIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHHHHHT!*


*Or 3 rounds of jam wrestling. Their choice.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9192/quarryhill.jpg

Passed this site today and noticed new hoardings are being put up on Eastgate (phase 1). Is this the start of the development. It would certainly be a big boost for the city as its such a major development. I think the Eastgate part of the development is the Hilton hotel budget brand.

^^ fingers crossed. the old hoardings have been a mess, but if there's a start on site that's great for this part of town (or any part of town bearing in mind the lack of recent new start action).

Also got my fingers crossed, and not one to look a gift horse in the mouth BUT...

Am I correct in thinking that phase one is only access roads, and a multi storey. The multi storey being the square box shown to the left of the bottom picture?

Phase One does seem to be only access roads and the MSCP, but still, this will help tidy up this part of town no end. Its also a sensible thing to do- get these 'foundation' blocks done so that when things pick up, they can be straight in there with the development of office space.

Although I don't think offices will expand as they did before, it is a well known fact that Leeds suffers from a lack of Grade A office space so any available as the economy starts to grow should be snapped up quickly.

Small illustration of MSCP car park on the final page.


http://www.dlgarchitects.com/upload/perspective/perspective.pdf

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/468xAny/l/y/b/NBT_ready.jpg

Noticed in Leeds today that work going on at the Leeds Ballet Theatre is certainly going up a lot when I went past today (any up to date construction pics please) and is there anything planned for what appears to be a long empty warehouse and empty plot of land which lies opposite from the new Dance Centre which Harryd mentioned earlier this page?

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/harrydphotos/IMG_1668.jpg

I seem to remember planning permission being granted for demolition and replacement a couple of years back, but perhaps fortunately nothing seems to have come of it. Pity you can't say the same for the other building on that block further along York Street, although it has given the city centre some green space!

The Ballet Theatre has really shot up and is bigger than I expected.

http://i39.tinypic.com/mb6ctf.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/of2heg.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/a4aemr.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/55jmh.jpg

I noticed today that the rather attractive Munro House on Duke Street pretty much next to Quarry Hill which was formerly (I believe) offices for Auto Trader and Ad Trader is now vacant. http://www.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=53.796342,-1.526155&spn=0,0.05476&t=h&z=15&layer=c&cbll=53.79646,-1.534317&panoid=c4lsM_t8OBBHEEoyP9DwmQ&cbp=12,29.67,,0,-4.33

Are there any plans for this building which could involve a possible extension onto that long vacant and decrepit plot on York Street as well as that nearby derelict warehouse slightly further along York Street before you get to the new Ballet Theatre?

What's the latest, any progress ?...

I was in this part of town a few days ago but didn't get chance to have a proper look.

What's the latest, any progress ?...

I was in this part of town a few days ago but didn't get chance to have a proper look.

Externally I think it's more or less complete bar the ground floor. Looks great on the train coming into Leeds from York.

Never approached the city from the east before, especially by train. Sounds interesting.

Good excuse to visit York me tinks...

The exterior is complete and looks very clean and modern with a dark grey frontage. Certainly stands out on the skyline as you travel on the dual carriageway from East Street towards Quarry House.

Milestone moment for new dance home From: www.thebusinessdesk.com

11th August 2010

THE development of the largest dance space outside of London has reached a major milestone with a topping out ceremony.

Deputy Lord Mayor Patrick Davey performed the ceremony at the £12m new home for Northern Ballet Theatre and Pheonix Theatre taking shape in Leeds.

The development by Wates Construction is due for completion later this year and will include seven dance studios, a 200-seat theatre and health suite as well as office and restaurant space.

Dave Price, Wates Construction’s regional manager, said: “It is fantastic to be part of such a high-profile project that will reinforce Leeds’ status as a cultural powerhouse. We’re making great progress and this topping out ceremony indicates a big step forward in the construction of this impressive building, which is already making its mark upon the city’s landscape."

During the ceremony Wates Construction presented the dance companies with a yew tree before Coun Davey was invited to bury a memory stick containing electronic memorabilia underneath one of the dance studio floors.

Coun Davey said: “It is fantastic that Leeds has made provisions for such a great dance space in the city. The project is a brilliant way of showing Leeds’ cultural mix and the topping out ceremony provides another great step forward towards the completion of the project.”

The building will form part of the city’s cultural-quarter with its neighbours the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Yorkshire Dance, BBC Leeds and the Leeds College of Music.

Sounds good, has anyone got any pictures of its current state?

Sounds good, has anyone got any pictures of its current state?

Walked passed the other day and I noticed the 'Northern School of Dance' logo at a jaunty angle………. Thought the signage people must all have one leg shorter than the other, but it’s like that on the other side as well…

Building looks well I think.

Today

http://i34.tinypic.com/fb99xx.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/ourvxl.jpg

Still cladding round the back

http://i36.tinypic.com/2vb1lbb.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/t4v5ok.jpg

hideous, but kinda expected that

hideous? Really?

S'areet. Those wannabe Baryshnikovs will be keen to get into the city centre and into a new building after all these years.

I like it- I think it's very smart and slick.

hideous, but kinda expected that

:lol: It's not that bad wiggley. :) i think it's a nice clean finish :cheers:

sharp smart modern architecture, wiggly what more do you want?

8/10 for me

I really like it.

I am a bit surprised that anybody thinks this hideous - in the sun today it looked very good.

it looks like the type of cladding that looks much better in real life, like opal. With opal, its the overbearing shape and its tiny windows that make it monstorous, not the actual cladding itself imo.

it looks like the type of cladding that looks much better in real life, like opal. With opal, its the overbearing shape and its tiny windows that make it monstorous, not the actual cladding itself imo.

Let's not get started on Opal, it has no redeeming features.

it looks like the type of cladding that looks much better in real life, like opal. With opal, its the overbearing shape and its tiny windows that make it monstorous, not the actual cladding itself imo.

I agree there, opal cladding is decent, its like you say the chunky shape and the tiny windows.

Let's not get started on Opal, it has no redeeming features.

Tbh I kinda agree with wiggley, while it has to be one of the ugliest new build's I've ever seen and no doubt Leeds would look much better without it, I drove past it the other week and up-close the materials used look of a really good quality which kind of shocked but impressed me It's such a shame that the design is pretty foul. Which is kind of the opposite of a fair few developments in Leeds where the building would look pretty great if only good quality cladding was used.

I am a bit surprised that anybody thinks this hideous - in the sun today it looked very good.

But what about the Daily Mail ?

I like it. Now how long is it going to take to finally get the rest of Quarry Hill finished?

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/Sept%202010/P1010087.jpg


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/Sept%202010/P1010088.jpg


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/Sept%202010/P1010090.jpg


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/Sept%202010/P1010091.jpg


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/Sept%202010/P1010094.jpg

why is the signage one the side 'northern ballet' on an angle?

why is the signage one the side 'northern ballet' on an angle?

Ballerina's spend most of their time standing on one leg. This strengthens the muscle in one but the other one deteriorates and they end up having one leg shorter than the other.

This way the sign will seem straight to them.

why is the signage one the side 'northern ballet' on an angle?

Because their logo is meant to be at an angle: http://northernballet.com/

NBT looking good, and great from the train as well.

No recent updates on the MSCP that was proposed for the part of this site closest to the A64?...

An awkward looking building. Odd that it faces onto the side street rather than the main road.

An awkward looking building. Odd that it faces onto the side street rather than the main road.

The side street has the better vehicular access (i.e. as a pick up/drop off point) and facing the main road would result in an entrance with bus stops, road crossings and double yellow lines in the way. The ground level facing the main road is actually opaque with silhouettes of dancers that 'move' as you drive past (there is a practice room within) - this allows people walking/driving by a feint glimpse at people practising within the building.

... The ground level facing the main road is actually opaque with silhouettes of dancers that 'move' as you drive past (there is a practice room within) - this allows people walking/driving by a feint glimpse at people practising within the building.

OK, fair enough. Maybe it's also orientated towards the BBC building. However, having the main entrance (and atrium?) facing the loading bay/drop off point implies that most people are arriving via taxi or dustbin lorry. I don't think having the entrance facing onto bus stops and crossings is a bad thing as it generates activity and draws people's attention (in addition to improving access).

Also if the derelict 'Munro' buildings next door were ever refurbished there would be the beginnings of some fairly high density developments facing onto the main road.

Watch Quarry Hill developments start to move forward now Eastgate Quarters is back on the radar.

i sure hope it does, lol

will be about time, really pissed me off waiting for this area to be developed it so long over due..

BBC article on the opening of Northern Ballet's new home in Quarry Hill. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leeds/hi/things_to_do/newsid_9060000/9060013.stm


Brand new home for Northern Ballet
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48854000/jpg/_48854649_newbuilding2.jpg
Northern Dance Centre
Northern Ballet's new home in the heart of Leeds

Northern Ballet has a proud history with many groundbreaking productions under its belt.

The company was founded in 1969 as the Northern Dance Theatre.

Now the company's moved into a home that befits such a history.

The new £12m dance centre on St Cecilia Street is in the heart of Leeds' cultural quarter - a stone's throw from the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds College of Music and the BBC.

BBC Leeds talked to Pippa Moore, principal dancer at the Northern Ballet about what the spectacular new home means to the company.

"I've been with the company for a fair few years now, and the promise of a new home had been around for most of them. I must admit to a bit of scepticism as to whether it would come to fruition, but now we're all really excited at the prospect of using such great facilities.

"Our old base was in a secondary school in the suburbs, and while we're grateful for all they've done for us, it'll be like a whole new world once we get used to the new centre.

Northern Ballet Theatre
Northern Ballet Theatre in action - pic Bill Cooper

The new dance centre - which Northern Ballet will share with contemporary dance company, Phoenix Dance - has seven studios, administration offices, educational facilities and a 200-seat theatre and Pippa hopes that the British public's current keenness for dance will benefit both companies.

"Dance is popular again. It's all over the television schedules at the moment so this comes at an opportune moment and hopefully we can entice people in to see a production or join a class.

"For me, the studio theatre is the main benefit. It's just the right size and will provide a unique, intimate atmosphere and will be an alternative to the major theatre productions that we do.

"It's a place we can be proud of, the choreographic workshops and the opportunity to collaborate with other dance groups are other benefits but I guess the main one is that we'll be visible to the general public - right in the heart of the city.

"Being so close to one of our major performance venues [the West Yorkshire Playhouse] is great - no longer will we have to traipse in from the edge of town, battered by the wind and rain. It really feels like progress."

Certainly a good new addition for the Quarry Hill area of the city.

Ay-up!

I'm happy to report my Google Earth model of Northern Ballet & Phoenix Dance Theatre is pretty much finished :Dhttp://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=9a90486748089370702ab476f3fca082&prevstart=0

i downloaded it cheers!!

Looking good!!!!!!! slick

I'm happy to report the model of Northern Ballet is included in Google Earth's 3D Layer :-{D

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/jacobs-and-leeds-city-council-unwrap-northern-ballet-centre/8608913.article

Prince Edward is to officially open the Northern Ballet Theatre next Tuesday and the following Saturday there will be a public open day: http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2011/jan/13/northern-ballet-leeds-dance-centre-prince-edward

Prince Edward to open Northern Ballet's new Leeds dance centre

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/1/13/1294914676803/northen_ballet.jpg
* £12 million centre to 'establish Leeds as a powerhouse for dance' against national backdrop of funding cuts
* Public invited to official open day

Northern Ballet new centre Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance are set to officially unveil their new £12m studio in the cultural sector of Leeds. Photograph: courtesy Northern Ballet

Prince Edward will officially open a new dance centre which organisers hope will establish Leeds 'as a powerhouse for dance' in the country.
Prince Edward visits Duke of Edinburgh awardees in Sydney The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward

Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre will launch their new, purpose-built centre for dance in Leeds, with an official opening by Northern Ballet's Royal Patron, the Earl of Wessex, next Tuesday.

On Saturday 22 January a public open day will offer the chance to get behind the scenes of both companies, watch classes and rehearsals and take part in free ballet, contemporary, jazz and African dance classes.

Both events mark the official completion of the companies' new home, which is the largest purpose-built centre for dance in the UK.

Northern Ballet artistic director David Nixon said in the light of the insecure financial cimate, the new building was a breath of fresh air for the cultural sector. Nixon said:

"Our new dance centre will help establish Leeds as a powerhouse for dance in the UK.

"Northern Ballet and Phoenix have grown up here. Alongside Opera North and West Yorkshire Playhouse, we started out decades ago as young ambitious arts companies and have become an established part of the cultural scene, not just locally, but nationally and internationally thanks to years of extensive touring.

"Our new home is a testament to the strength of support and confidence in the future of dance at the forefront of the cultural life of Leeds.

"It will nourish future talent by allowing young aspiring dancers from across the north to access outstanding training in excellent facilities without having to leave home, and continue to expand Leeds' reputation as a crucible for the arts for generations to come."

Nixon said building partnerships was key to secure the financial future of the building, with further cuts planned in the arts sector next year. It is hoped that further income will be generated by hiring out the building's facilities when not in use by the dance companies.

Sharon Watson, artistic director of Phoenix Dance Theatre, said:

"Phoenix Dance Theatre shares an ambition with Northern Ballet to deliver and create quality dance to and with communities from across the North and the facilities we now have access to are key to us achieving this goal."

The six-storey development is located in the burgeoning cultural quarter at Quarry Hill, alongside West Yorkshire Playhouse, BBC Leeds, Yorkshire Dance and Leeds College of Music.

The building comprises seven dance studios, including a 230-seat studio theatre - which is europe's biggest dance studio - wardrobe facilities, office space, meeting rooms and a public exhibition space. Other facilities include a health suite with hot tub, sauna, physiotherapist and masseur and conference facilities with free wi-fi throughout. The building also features special Harlequin sprung floors which allow for easier movement for the dancers.

The £12 million building has been financed through a combination of public and private funding from Leeds council, the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Yorkshire; Yorkshire Forward; trusts, foundations and individual donors.

Councillor Adam Ogilvie, Leeds council executive member for leisure, said:

"This is a fantastic achievement. The new dance theatre really puts Leeds on the map as the most important city for dance outside London."

Certainly very good news regarding this development adding more cultural faciltities to this corner of Leeds. Will there be a theatre in this development which paying punters can pay to watch plays, dances and the like?

Read the article you just posted again? 230 seat theatre plus public exhibition space?...

Yep- what are you saying? That you're surprised these exist in the building...?

Read the article you just posted again? 230 seat theatre plus public exhibition space?...

Oops, guess it is a case of reading the article without fully reading it first.

West Yorkshire Playhouse is celebrating it's 21st birthday this month. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/lifestyle/arts-entertainment/west_yorkshire_playhouse_celebrates_21st_birthday_1_3139210

West Yorkshire Playhouse celebrates 21st birthday
Sponsored by Leeds Forum
editorial image

2002: West Yorkshire Playhouse production of Hamlet with Christopher Ecclestone in the lead role.

Published on Thu Mar 03 11:52:06 GMT 2011

From a precarious start to becoming the ‘National Theatre of the North’ West Yorkshire Playhouse is not only an institution in Leeds but a nationally renowned theatre complex which has put the city on the map. As it prepares to celebrate its 21st birthday next week,

Arts Editor Rod McPhee looks at one of our biggest success stories.

CYNICAL doesn’t cover it. When Jude Kelly arrived on the building site that would become West Yorkshire Playhouse, even the brickies put the boot in. “They told me: ‘You know this’ll be an Asda in a couple of years love, don’t you?’”

She laughs, but only now, safe in the knowledge that the legacy she left behind almost a decade ago is safe. It wasn’t always that way.

Throughout the 80s a small cluster of leading arts figures in Leeds had to battle to develop a purpose-built centre for theatre which would be a home to the whole spectrum of plays and the whole spectrum of society . Ultimately it fell on the Playhouse’s first artistic director to ensure it came to fruition.

Kelly says: “There was the Leeds Playhouse and there was Leeds Grand Theatre, but they represented a huge divide between the more experimental/fringe/community theatre and the more classical repertoire like Arthur Miller or Shakespeare. Most of the truly experimental work was being done in London.

“But my attitude was always that you shouldn’t have to go to London to get access to a hospital or a school, why should you have to go to London to access good theatre? So it wasn’t about just creating a bigger building, it was about saying something about Leeds and putting us on the map.

“If you want to be a first class city, it’s important to have first class theatre. When I came people were heartened and encouraged on one hand, while others thought I was being unrealistic and over-ambitious. But I felt you had to be ambitious for the city you lived in.”

The campaigners eventually secured most of the funding from local authorities to the tune of £15m including, notably, the soon-to-be disbanded West Yorkshire County Council which, as a final two fingers up at the Thatcher government that abolished it, handed over its last £2m to the project. Thus, the playhouse took the title of the county, rather than the city.

But by the time Judi Dench came to officially open the Playhouse, the fight had only just begun.

“It was quite hard from the beginning.” recalls Kelly. “I would talk to London agents for actors and when I’d mention West Yorkshire Playhouse they would say “Where?”

“So we had to build a reputation, but we did it. I think after about four years people started calling us ‘the National Theatre of the North.’ We liked the tag, but it was one we had to wait to be given, rather than attaching it to ourselves.

“From a point where we felt there was nothing like us outside of London, we reached the stage where I remember one director telling me there wasn’t anything like us inside London.”

West Yorkshire Playhouse is special because it is one of only a handful of producing theatres in the country. It is home to two theatres and numerous educational facilities which play host to various sections of society ranging from people with learning disabilities to elderly people.

The aim was never to create a stand-alone venue playing host to a series of touring productions, the goal was always to create an artistic hub which the community felt a part of.

But the Playhouse also had to gain credibility during the 1990s. Gradually Kelly attracted numerous famous names to the theatres – Prunella Scales, Tim West, a youthful Jude Law, Patrick Stewart. Even Alan Rickman came to direct.

The artistic director knew they’d really arrived when Ian McKellen visited the theatre to see a production of the Merchant of Venice and loved the place so much he signed up to a three-play mini-season in 1998 before he jetted off to film Lord of the Rings.

The variance of production fulfilled Kelly’s initial ambition of bridging the gap between challenging work and the more mainstream. On the one hand they staged the harrowing The Beatification of Area Boy by Nobel-winning writer Wole Soyinka in 1995, on the other hand Kelly enjoyed a massive commercial success with her revival of the musical Singin’ in the Rain.

It was a real wrench for her to leave the Playhouse in 2002, but also an indication of her achievement that she is now director of the Southbank Centre in London, one of the world’s biggest arts spaces.

“I have an enormous emotional attachment to Leeds and the Playhouse,” she says. “It’s like a love affair, really, and to this day I still accidentally introduce myself to people as the artistic director of West Yorkshire Playhouse, and then I remember I don’t work there any more.”

Although crucial, Kelly’s tenure at the Playhouse formed the second chapter.

The first started in 1970 when the Leeds Playhouse was formed in a sports hall owned by Leeds Metropolitan University.

From the beginning it was always a temporary fixture with a group of leading arts figures developing plans for a permanent theatre complex.

Leading the charge was Coun Bernard Atha, a long-time stalwart of local culture.

As early as 1980 the Quarry Hill site was earmarked for the new Playhouse but it took 10 years to get the plans off the ground and, more importantly, to secure funding.

“Most of the money came from local authorities,” he recalls. “But we had to raise £1.5m ourselves and what was very heartening was the fact that this was done by local people.

“The intention was always to create a people’s theatre, somewhere that was very different to your more elite venues. We wanted to feel like anyone could come into the Playhouse and do whatever they wanted.

“It was far more relaxed. To this days it’s unusual to see many people arriving for shows wearing a tie, which is a contrast to your more starched theatres where you were always expected to dress up.

“The whole ethos of the place was intended to be egalitarian. So there was no stage door, just one main entrance which you used regardless of whether you were the cleaner or Prince Edward attending a performance.

“It’s incredible to think of what the Playhouse has achieved over the last 21 years, to think that it now sits at the heart of a whole cultural quarter for Leeds and has really put the city on the map.”

The third stage of the evolution began in 2002 when Ian Brown took over as artistic director.

It was difficult following in the footsteps of Kelly but throughout the Noughties chalked up his own achievements.

As well as debuting new writing, frequently by northern writers, he’s also attracted several big names ranging from ex-Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston in Hamlet to Othello, with funnyman-turned-actor Lenny Henry taking a lead. Both were huge commercial and critical successes.

So too were the Christmas shows such as The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe which attracted huge attention.

But there have been deeper achievements too, such as the creation of the nearby First Floor facility on St Peter’s Square introducing young people to the performing arts.

There is, and always has been, a distinct political undertone to West Yorkshire Playhouse, and it’s one which Brown thinks is fundamental.

“I’m sure lots of people think we are lefties,” he laughs. “I suppose we are in a way. I’ve certainly always believed in theatre being an egalitarian thing.

“From the beginning I wanted to run a building where we put on plays that might change people’s perceptions and minds because I do believe in multiculturalism and a liberal society.

“Which is why we’ve always stuck our necks out and done more challenging works. We did it 21 years ago and we’re still doing it today.”

But as well as wanting to present a certain prism to the population Brown insists one of their guiding mantras is equality.

He says: “I think the poor should have as much access to the arts as the wealthy. Jude had that attitude and it continues up to today.

“In Leeds I’m very aware that our audience are passionate theatre-goers, but I wouldn’t say our audience is posh, in fact, when I see what I’d describe as the upper classes in our theatre it’s unusual.

“I think what’s important is that people come because they like to see plays – and that’s it.”

As for the next chapter of the Playhouse’s history, that remains uncertain. It’s cruel coincidence that as they celebrate their 21st birthday next week they will also be preparing for inevitable spending cuts from both the arts council and local authorities.

There’s an irony in marking this milestone, given the faltering start of the playhouse and the parallels with today’s situation. But there’s little doubt that ‘the National of the North’ will survive and Brown remains upbeat.

“Up to now we’ve always tried to resist that comparison,” he says. “But it would be nice to get the National Theatre’s funding.”

Certainly good news to see such a now established theatre and cultural asset for Leeds reach such a milestone as I certainly remember back in the 1990s the potential risk that it could close down and is certainly telling of the builders of the WYP predict that it was to close and become an ASDA within a couple of years (although externally it does have that appearance of a late 1980s supermarket or shopping centre). Are there any pictures of it's construction online anywhere and were any other locations mooted (say Eastgate or Queens Hall) before it was decided to build the Playhouse on Quarry Hill. I never knew it was known as the West Yorkshire as opposed to Leeds Playhouse because it received funding from the West Yorkshire County Council as it was being axed. Lets hope the spending cuts don't affect the West Yorkshire Playhouse too much (and on another theatre related note are the works at the City Varieties still on track to be completed on schedule)?

Still it would of course be nice to see the rest of Quarry Hill built up considering much of it is just a surface car park with no sign of any work taking place soon.

Apologies if these have been posted previously, but has anyone seen these Urban Splash renders for Saxton?

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/19947354.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/16059419.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/16059414.jpg

They're a bit too psychedelic for my liking... almost Will Alsop-esque... but I suppose it would vastly regenerate the area.

Is work finished on those flats or is there more to be done?

Is work finished on those flats or is there more to be done?

I believe the Saxton Gardens development was completed some time ago (maybe a year or two back) although it is in that sort of location that is a bit off the beaten track.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5517284242_3f8cf21017_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/4015804139_49b35de7d7_z.jpg?zz=1

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3508/4016570160_42e1e2e698_z.jpg?zz=1

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/3711199792_4f10eb4072_z.jpg

Looks nice has it proved popular considering there are many other residential developments closer to the city centre and I think it is a bit of a shame that the other flats at Saxton Gardens were not done up in the same way imo, although of course they were refurbished only a few years back of course and provide social housing close to the city centre.

I wonder if Urban Splash would ever plan any developments in Leeds in the future although I believe their financial position has been very poor since the recession commenced back in 2007, with Urban Splash potentially going under being strongly rumoured and with Urban Splash being stung massively by long drawn out developments such as Lister's Mill in Bradford and Park Hill in Sheffield which had seen a major drop in property values with I believe only additional public sector funding saving things.

Well this slipped under everyones radar

Reference 11/03824/COND
Address Quarry Hill Eastgate Leeds LS9 8AW
Proposal Consent, agreement or approval required by conditions 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 34 and 38 of Planning Application 07/04522/FU
Status Split Decision
Appeal Status No data

case (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=LR98NCJB0FQ00)

more details with renders here (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=JLBO2PJB0FZ00)

Interesting, although of course gaining planning permission is a totally different kettle of fish to actually seeing any construction.

^^

I think its got a good chance of getting off the ground personally, with it being a hotel and casino with bars & restaurants.

Well this slipped under everyones radar



case (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=LR98NCJB0FQ00)

more details with renders here (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=JLBO2PJB0FZ00)

Got to be good news. Just watch Quarry Hill come to life with new developments if and when EQ starts construction.

Would certainly be very nice to see some filling in of the long empty void at Quarry Hill. Stilll I would only believe this development is occuring when something is on site (surely whether Eastgate takes place anytime soon would surely impact on whether there is much in the way of development at Quarry Hill and other adjacent roads such as Regents Street or New York Road).

Extension of time for outline planning of a 7 storey block.
see here (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=KZSEP3JB0FZ00&documentOrdering.orderBy=date&documentOrdering.orderDirection=descending)

and another...
08/06093/FU | Multi level development upto 14 storeys, comprising offices, fitness centre and shop with 13 storeys of car parking in two phases | Junction Of Eastgate And New York Road Quarry Hill Leeds
see here (https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=K9GGVNJB0FZ00&documentOrdering.orderBy=date&documentOrdering.orderDirection=descending)

This is a massive development overall, big enough to add quite a bit to Leeds, and would sit really well with Eastgate.

We should see some commercial developemnts start moving in Leeds soon - surely. Developments are really starting to move forward in Manchester now, and we saw things proceding there first shortly before things started moving in Leeds during the last round of developements. If things don't start to move here soonish, we will be starting to fall further and further behind Manchester which will be really not good for the local (Leeds powerhouse) economy.

While true, what does that mean to investors? For the most part, they're only interested in themselves- not in the city (unless they already have a stake in the city somewhere).

If Hammerson make a positive announcement about Eastgate tomorrow or in the upcoming weeks in light of their planning permission coming to an end this summer, that should pave the way for this development to start too.

Ultimately though, we can't believe anything until we see it. The developments in Manchester are largely either student orientated or have pre-lets signed. That's the only thing that will definitely ensure developments in Leeds go ahead.

That's true, but there often seems to be an element of everyone paused waiting for someone else to go first; as a lot about investment is down to confidence (or more correctly its direct opposite: caution).

Hence the comments that if Eastgate were to announce a firm start tomorrow others with surrounding proposed schemes ready to go may well follow soon after. That is perhaps why a lot of activity in Manchester may provide a boost of confidence here, as it's a first sign of developement confidence spreading out of the (safe) London market. It does seem to be a lot to do with confidence (which is mostly what has collapsed like a pack of cards in recent years).

Wonder if the developers renewed interest is in anyway linked to the large casino licenses that are up for grabs?