South Bank

[Leeds No.1]

Had been thinking about this recently and only just remembered to mention it...

To make the City Park higher quality and more deliverable, what about teaming up with organisations such as the RHS to deliver a major attraction that people will visit?

I mention the RHS as all their gardens are country gardens, with only Harlow Carr in the north. Given the opportunity, I'd expect them to be keen on the challenge of developing a high quality urban garden in a flagship location like this.

It would be a coup for Leeds, and would really attract a different group of people who would perhaps normally avoid cities.

[mike okane]

Don't know if the Braime steelworks are mentioned in the Southbank document (i'll read the PDFs), but i think it should be bought by the City council and converted into a multi use venue for Exhibitions, Conferences, Music, fleamarkets, sports events etc.in the way the Queens Hall was utilised.The site is large enough to also function as a science/engineering museum, and would create a link to Clarence Dock and the Armouries , saving an impressive building for public use.

[Austin_rothwell]

Originally Posted by mike okane

Don't know if the Braime steelworks are mentioned in the Southbank document (i'll read the PDFs), but i think it should be bought by the City council and converted into a multi use venue for Exhibitions, Conferences, Music, fleamarkets, sports events etc.in the way the Queens Hall was utilised.The site is large enough to also function as a science/engineering museum, and would create a link to Clarence Dock and the Armouries , saving an impressive building for public use.

I think it's mentioned as an adjacent listed building within the document but it's a big site for Braime to even consider relocating from. It doesn't need saving while it's still in use.

[mike okane]

Originally Posted by Austin_rothwell

I think it's mentioned as an adjacent listed building within the document but it's a big site for Braime to even consider relocating from. It doesn't need saving while it's still in use.

Ta for that info.I thought there was a planning app for housing use on a sign outside the works maybe 4 or 5 years back, but must be mistaken.Obviously good that the works are being utilised for their original purpose!

[MattN]

I don't know if it got as far as planning. I do remember seeing an article on the Middleton Today site about how Nicholas Braime was hoping to sell it with the potential for it all to be demolished, but it got listed. Seems strange to me that a man who's ancestors had such a magnificent building built, and which is still in the family, should think like that but what ho. The article claimed that just the canteen is listed but the council's register of listed buildings contradicts this.

I think they eventually decided, given the economic situation that unfolded, that it was unrealistic to expect anyone to buy it any time soon so they decided to keep the business there.

[Leeds No.1]

Asda set to buy Leeds Tetley’s brewery site EXCLUSIVE

By Jonathan Brown
Published on Wednesday 13 June 2012 06:50

Asda looks set to buy the Tetley’s brewery site at the centre of Leeds, the YEP understands.

Talks could lead to the supermarket chain taking over the entire 22 acre site, in Hunslet, following its five-year temporary use as a gallery, green space and 900-space car park.

A source close to discussions between Asda and Carlsberg, which owns the site, has revealed Asda’s “huge interest” in the land that has led to them being given first option to buy.

It is thought that following the sale, Asda House, in Great Wilson Street, would be relocated to the site.

The source, who did not want to be named, told the YEP: “In overall terms I expect Asda to use it as an opportunity to build on something they did 30 years ago – it was ground breaking to be that side of the river but the world’s moved on.”

He said if Asda vacated its current site seven acre site, Leeds City Council’s ambitions for a large city park could be realised there.

Demolition of 37 buildings on the site of the historic brewery site is expected to finish in mid-July.

John Rowe, chairman of Leeds Campaign for Real Ale, said: “Turn it into some soulless, basic call centre and administration office for an American-owned chain of supermarkets seems very much a kick in the face for the citizens of Leeds.”

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Development at the brewery would fit into a revamp of 40 acres of land on the south side of the River Aire, known as the Leeds South Bank, to create housing, jobs and green space. An informal masterplan to help guide future development in the area was adopted by the council last year.

The project will also include land owned by Asda, the council, and Northern Irish developer McAleer and Rushe.

As part of this the council consulted with South Bank landowners, over plans for an up to 12acre city centre park.

Dr Kevin Grady, director of Leeds Civic Trust, said: “For the city centre park to go ahead in the longer term it was one of those things that Asda moving locations would be rather helpful towards, so it would not be inconceivable that a move like that would happen.”

He said Asda probably wouldn’t need all of the 22 acre site, which has been valued at £65million. It is though the super market chain would sell off what they don’t need when the market picks up.

Coun Richard Lewis, the council’s executive member for development, said: “We remain committed to the agreed planning framework for the city’s South Bank – which includes housing and offices as well as a city park.”

A Carlsberg UK spokeswoman said: “Carlsberg UK continues to look at opportunities for the future of the Tetley’s site.”

Asda declined to comment.

[SalsaShark]

Asda relocating does seem very beneficial to Leeds for the development of the South Bank and a well-positioned city centre park, rather than it being massively out on a limb. So, overall this strikes me as good news, despite the grumbles from CAMRA.

But how come the proposed gallery at the Tetley's site is only a 5-year temporary measure? Did I miss something? We desperately need a decent modern art gallery, so I would hope that after the 5 years it would be relocated rather than dropped.

[Leeds No.1]

I wonder what PSL have to say on the issue. It hadn't been mentioned before that the art gallery was temporary use.

[Mister City]

Originally Posted by SalsaShark

Asda relocating does seem very beneficial to Leeds for the development of the South Bank and a well-positioned city centre park, rather than it being massively out on a limb. So, overall this strikes me as good news, despite the grumbles from CAMRA.

But how come the proposed gallery at the Tetley's site is only a 5-year temporary measure? Did I miss something? We desperately need a decent modern art gallery, so I would hope that after the 5 years it would be relocated rather than dropped.

I really hope Asda doesn't buy the site. I'm in total agreement at with CAMRA. To turn this into a bland HQ for ASDA would be a total disaster!! Why can't it be turned into some sort of tourist attraction. It is in a prime location and could be turned into something gret that could really put Leeds on the map!!!

[Aaronj09]

A bland HQ? Have you not seen Co-op's HQ? How is that bland at all? It's striking. Asda could easily build something similar. And once Asda relocate, the council's plans for a large park will finally become a reality. It makes total sense.

[Suburban Knight]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

I wonder what PSL have to say on the issue. It hadn't been mentioned before that the art gallery was temporary use.

Presumably it was one of the terms discussed in negotiations originally.

[Suburban Knight]

Originally Posted by Aaronj09

A bland HQ? Have you not seen Co-op's HQ? How is that bland at all? It's striking. Asda could easily build something similar. And once Asda relocate, the council's plans for a large park will finally become a reality. It makes total sense.

Don't take the bait, he always talks nonsense and doesn't think about what cities actually need!

[Philo]

Would ASDA seriously occupy all the old brewery site? It's huge! Maybe three times the existing footprint of ASDA headquarters, looking at the council's south bank documents. It seems to me that one key thing would be to get public access through the site from bridge end south to gt wilson street and crown point road, and possibly east west as well, so that it's not the monolithic obstacle that the brewery was. That would be to reinstate some of the traditional road layout. But would that be compatible with what ASDA wants to do with it?

[Mister City]

Originally Posted by Suburban Knight

Don't take the bait, he always talks nonsense and doesn't think about what cities actually need!

Excuse me!! There's no need to be so rude!! I don't agree with all your opinions but I've never insulted you so please don't insult me!!

[10123]

Originally Posted by Philo

Would ASDA seriously occupy all the old brewery site? It's huge! Maybe three times the existing footprint of ASDA headquarters, looking at the council's south bank documents. It seems to me that one key thing would be to get public access through the site from bridge end south to gt wilson street and crown point road, and possibly east west as well, so that it's not the monolithic obstacle that the brewery was. That would be to reinstate some of the traditional road layout. But would that be compatible with what ASDA wants to do with it?

It's nearly four times the size of the current HQ.



It's expected they'll sell any land they don't use.

Considering the price of the site- 65 million - I would expect something on the scale of the Coop HQ. Otherwise they wouldn't spend a huge amount on the land.

[alphaxion]

It'll be a damn groundscaper, you mark my words

I doubt it will get higher than 4 or 5 levels

[Lad 2011]

Originally Posted by alphaxion

It'll be a damn groundscaper, you mark my words

I doubt it will get higher than 4 or 5 levels

I think the opposite... we will most likely see something tall.

[Alexi Lalas]

I don't think that tall builds generally suit one Tennant very well. They're much better suited to having a number of companies in, spread over the different floors. I would be very suprised to see anything more than 4 or 5 floors. Anything more would not be practical.

[Leeds No.1]

I'm backing alphaxion. Why would it be something tall? It's a big site in a sparsely developed area. There's no reason for it to be tall.

If it's the height of Indigo Blu I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Leeds No.1]

Originally Posted by Alexi Lalas

I don't think that tall builds generally suit one Tennant very well. They're much better suited to having a number of companies in, spread over the different floors. I would be very suprised to see anything more than 4 or 5 floors. Anything more would not be practical.

True, although in the case of a big company like ASDA they could easily fill a tower. However, the geography of the area makes me doubt it'd be anything tall.