Venture Tower becomes a 52 storey monster with 27 storey baby!

[Accura4Matalan]

Not bad. Looks like a slightly more boxy version of CP.
Why does Leeds keep making up its own regions that it will have the tallest building in?
Last time I checked, Leeds was in Yorkshire, not the North East.

[caw123]

The building would be taller than Bridgewater Place, the 30-storey project being built on Water Lane in Leeds and also taller than Criterion Place, a planned twin glass towers development on Sovereign Street.

They also seem to think 157m is more than 160m?

[Leeds No.1]

Well its OK, probably will look better in real life. It is similar to Criterion Place but its good to hear that this could be up by 2009. I have a feeling it may need to be redesigned, Im not sure. I expect it will be more like 2010/2011 at the earliest instead of 2009 for a completion date.

[ps60]

Originally Posted by caw123

They also seem to think 157m is more than 160m?

It said at least 516 feet tall. So maybe it could be taller than CP.

[ps60]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

Well its OK, probably will look better in real life. It is similar to Criterion Place but its good to hear that this could be up by 2009. I have a feeling it may need to be redesigned, Im not sure. I expect it will be more like 2010/2011 at the earliest instead of 2009 for a completion date.

If it were to be up by 2009, then it would need to start next year.

[Leeds No.1]

Well thats what it said!

[ps60]

It says the 27-storey building will be 295 feet tall. So the 52-storey could well be more like 576 feet tall rather than 516 feet tall.

[caw123]

Originally Posted by ps60

It said at least 516 feet tall. So maybe it could be taller than CP.

If that isn't the height then it's a bit arbitrary wouldn't you agree? Why on earth would they even mention 516ft if it wasn't the height of something to do with this. When they say taller than CP, they must be going off floor counts.

I find it strange that there will be a bunch of old people living in a yuppie building.

[caw123]

Originally Posted by ps60

It says the 27-storey building will be 295 feet tall. So the 52-storey could well be more like 576 feet tall rather than 516 feet tall.

The 27 storey has office floors in it, which have higher floorplates than residential. You can see, the bottom 10 floors of it are office.

[ps60]

Originally Posted by caw123

I find it strange that there will be a bunch of old people living in a yuppie building.

Then again maybe not. I'm sure a 30th floor apartment offers more security than a typical house for the older folk. After all, a 30th floor window will be rather harder to climb through than a ground floor window.

[jimbo]

good lord, pensioners in skyscrapers, what a wacky idea. If the lifts failed and they all had to use the stairs you'd be in strife mate.

Hard to tell from the images, but looks like mix of Kite Tower (also Carey Jones involvement) and a bit of Criterion Place mixed in.

Wonder what the residents of City Central (the lovely old Wellesley Hotel) would think about these towers appearing in their windows. I'd be chuffed!

[Rob]

It could be a touch of media hype, but the write up sounded quite optimistic. They have obviously done a lot research and preliminary work, what with wind tunnel models in New York etc, and our great forward thinking council embracing such a prestigious scheme. I also think KW Linfoot have a lot more spark in them than Simons Estates, and I would put money on this going ahead before the near mirror image Criterion Place scheme.

£200m is a lot to raise, but perhaps the two partners are big enough to do it, they must have a scheme for doing this or they wouldn't have invested what must by now be hundreds of thousands into this proposal.

[Leeds No.1]

If they can get the money from the developments they have already built/building/to be built soon, then they should be able to get £200m. I think this cost might go up though. Criterion Place is also quite cheap in comparison to other schemes... It must've been well researched though so we'll see. Whats happening with CP anyway?

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by Rob

It could be a touch of media hype, but the write up sounded quite optimistic. They have obviously done a lot research and preliminary work, what with wind tunnel models in New York etc, and our great forward thinking council embracing such a prestigious scheme. I also think KW Linfoot have a lot more spark in them than Simons Estates, and I would put money on this going ahead before the near mirror image Criterion Place scheme.

£200m is a lot to raise, but perhaps the two partners are big enough to do it, they must have a scheme for doing this or they wouldn't have invested what must by now be hundreds of thousands into this proposal.

It is a lot of beans and again, I'd say a rather large amount of risk for any developer / lender involved. Scarborough and KW Linfoot are essentially local development firms that have grown aplenty in an economic climate where people have been scrambling, not only to get on the property ladder, but also in the growing city centres. I don't think the two companies mentioned are particularly well capitalised, and thus they would certainly need to rope in several other institutions and perhaps private investment / equity firms (as happened with BWP) to get the funding sorted and the project off the ground.

that said, Linfoot has delivered on most of his promised, although the next biggest scheme he's done before BWP (which remember is only the residential element) was West Central and the Whitehall Riverside apartments where the company is now based in the penthouse, primarily as they found there wasn't a big enough market to get anyone else to part with the cash for a 16-17th floor 3 bedder!

They are unsurprisingly optimistic, and i don't think the council will have any problems, the majority of overshadowing or 'looming over' will be of offices on Whitehall Road, and Linfoots own development at West Central.

At least we've got the name conundrum solved. West Point Naval Academy, Virginia it is. Sir, yes sir!

[Rob]

All quiet publically, but I believe the work is progressing slowly behind the scenes, I think we may well get both schemes in the end, remembering also that the council are enthusiastic about both schemes, whereas Liverpool are having real problems with their 50 storeyer.

The £200m is raised partly through their funds, but mainly will be through getting banks on board to invest the money up front, which is paid back when everything sells, hopefully with a little profit for each party involved. (the Royal Bank of Scotland funded BWP).

[Leeds No.1]

Maybe if its local based companies, building a project that will help the local area, then more local based companies may put in money, particularly if they will benefit from it. Possibly Yorkshire Bank, Halifax...etc we'll see! Im sure they'll get it somehow, even if it takes a good few years!

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

Maybe if its local based companies, building a project that will help the local area, then more local based companies may put in money, particularly if they will benefit from it. Possibly Yorkshire Bank, Halifax...etc we'll see! Im sure they'll get it somehow, even if it takes a good few years!

Yorkshire Bank is owned (along with Clydesdale) by NAB (National Australia Bank), and Halifax merged with Bank of Scotland. I doubt perceived local allegiences are enough to persuade a bank to part with £50mill or so for a development project. You're being rather idealistic No.1, companies don't work like that. there has to be profit or margin on a deal and the promise of adding value to shareholders assets, otherwise its goodnight Vienna.

[Leeds No.1]

Yeah I know lol. I was kinda thinking 'that'll never happen, but it could do so say it anyway'

[ahmedd]

This proposal is a ten times better than what was origionally planned (10 storey office blocks and hotel). It goes to prove that having a pro high rise council can bring in proposals we could never have dreamt of just a couple of years ago.

[Fred2]

Originally Posted by ahmedd

This proposal is a ten times better than what was origionally planned (10 storey office blocks and hotel). It goes to prove that having a pro high rise council can bring in proposals we could never have dreamt of just a couple of years ago.

Very true. And a vast distance away from the bland 'Leeds Look' of some 10-15 years ago! However, who on planning committees hold more sway and influence. The officers and professionals - or the politicians ?