Trinity, Leeds | 1m sq ft retail development | Now open!

[Val Verde]

Agree the Leeds's main shopping area should expand in directions other than eastwards. However is'nt it a bit unusual that there has been no anchor retail names revealed for this development yet (such as the annoucement of John Lewis for Eastgate). Surely there must be a big anchor planning to open in this development if this new centre is to become a long term success and not a white elephant like the Headrow (former Schofields) Centre.

[LeedsLad]

Given that this isn't aimed at the pricey end of the market, what 'big anchor' names are there left to come to Leeds? I'd guess bigger units may attract relocations of existing stores within Leeds or it will attract 2nd branches of existing stores... Mind you there's always the repeated suggestion that there's hundreds of shops looking to come to Leeds, maybe just not any big ones...
I'd like to see some competition for Morrissons so Leeds has a proper city centre supermarket, that would take up a massive shop floor....
Also might see the likes of Intersport, KFC, Ikea (who I think are looking at introducing city centre stores), etc all currently unrepresented in the city...

[Val Verde]

Guess as I said in another post that House of Fraser could possibly relocate here as their Leeds store appears to be not as high standard of a store as their Manchester or Birmingham branches. Also isn't it true that there is still a Lewis's in Liverpool. Are they in a state of reasonable expansion at all which could see the return of this well known name to Leeds or are they the sort of shop that no one under 80 shops in and would probably close down in a few years?

[daveylad2]

Originally Posted by Skychaser 2005

Good news, but where is the quote from?

http://www.pinsentmasons.com/experti...owncentre.aspx
It's at the bottom of the page.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

Agree the Leeds's main shopping area should expand in directions other than eastwards. However is'nt it a bit unusual that there has been no anchor retail names revealed for this development yet (such as the annoucement of John Lewis for Eastgate). Surely there must be a big anchor planning to open in this development if this new centre is to become a long term success and not a white elephant like the Headrow (former Schofields) Centre.

One of the anchor tenants is supposed to be Habitat, the store having temporarily relocated from Briggate to Birstall.

I'd like to see some competition for Morrissons so Leeds has a proper city centre supermarket, that would take up a massive shop floor....

I was in there recently to buy some Extra chewing gum. Mon dieu! It's the last place god made. Just because many of the shoppers are working-class doesn;t mean the facilities have to be filthy, ramshackle, and downright appalling. What must Leeds students think of the city when they have to shop in that hole?

[Val Verde]

Agree about Morrisons it really is a dive. I wonder why Waitrose, Asda, Sainsbury or Tesco have not bought the old West Riding House Safeway as that was just as popular a store as Morrisons in the Merrion and Leeds is quite poorly served by supermarkets as opposed to Manchester or Birmingham where they seem to be a Sainsburys Local or Tesco Express on every street corner. Mind you sadly the Merrion Centre Morrisons will probably be in a poor condition for a while as they lost £300million last year. Also found this amusing article from Dooyoo.co.uk: http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/offline-shop...risons/282652/

[magicrealist]

Originally Posted by di Livio

There have been so many false dawns it's hard to tell, i see no reason why not. Who's brave enough to ask the shopworkers in Next Clearance when they'll be moving out?

Why the sneering tone Di Liv?

I've shopped happily in there and in Mozzies up at the Merrion Centre. I'm not sure what people are complaining about. I find the diverse life in the MC Moz to be quite refreshing. There are many people who could not afford to shop in M&S or Waitrose.

I think a lot of people on this forum need to get out a bit more. See a bit of life before deciding that everything in Leeds needs to be like the VQ.

Oh, the reason Safeways closed was due to the lease expiring. The owners intend (or did intend) to change it's use to other retail, hence no other supermarket operator coming forward.

I live in the city and I find the "supermarket" provision to be perfectly adequate. Moz if I'm up that end. M&S on Briggate or at the station if after 6pm. Or our local shop, Simpsons. Or even the 24h garage for emergencies!

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by magicrealist

Why the sneering tone Di Liv?

I'm not the sneering type, honest.

Who's brave enough to ask the shopworkers in Next Clearance when they'll be moving out?

My question was more to do with personal diffidence than providing an assessment of the quality/ class status of the place. I happen to own a couple of items from there and I hope it relocates within the city centre once TQ is up and running.

My point about Morrisons was a valid one I think.
I don't see why a flagship store like the Merrion Morrisons has to have a run-down, neglected feel to it, simply because it isn't aiming for the high-end Waitrose or M&S market. I remember passing through when I were nowt but a toddler, and the place hasn't changed much since then. By contrast, the Wetherby store is clean, spacious and modern. Some investment from Ken would be welcome.




For the record, I shop at Tesco, there's very little in VQ I can afford, and yes, I should get out more.

[Fred2]

Originally Posted by di Livio

My point about Morrisons was a valid one I think.
I don't see why a flagship store like the Merrion Morrisons has to have a run-down, neglected feel to it, simply because it isn't aiming for the high-end Waitrose or M&S market. I remember passing through when I were nowt but a toddler, and the place hasn't changed much since then. By contrast, the Wetherby store is clean, spacious and modern. Some investment from Ken would be welcome.

I quite agree. Compared with the Wetherby store it's a flea pit. In the Merrion Centre there may be constraints as to rebuilding, but surely some refurbishment is long overdue.

[jimbo]

the delays with Trinity Quarter are getting farcical. Even the architect has expired, probably frustrated with the endless bickering between Tops Estates and USS. I seriously think we may see more meaningful action (in terms of a planning application and issuance of Compulsory Purchase Orders) with Harewood/Eastgate.

[Val Verde]

I hope when they do build Trinity Quarter they don't do the Briggate facade all terracotta tiles as this render appers to show below as it would look massively out of date if built in this style.

[Stig282]

That looks so tacky!!! Please can we have somethign better.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

I hope when they do build Trinity Quarter they don't do the Briggate facade all terracotta tiles as this render appers to show below as it would look massively out of date if built in this style.

A more recent rendering was in the YEP last year, and it looked slightly different with a wider facade, perhaps replacing TopShop/Man. There were surface details similar those of the Scottish Parliament building below. I only hope TQ doesn't make part of the city centre look like it's been Tango'ed.

[Typhoo25]

I have to say that whatever cladding they use will be better than the scummy shithole we have at the moment. This area is a disgrace and how it has been left to rot is just incredible. They would have been better closing the briggate entrance and preventing people from getting anywhere near it. The sooner this happens the better.

I am all for developments of the highest standards, but there are certain areas of Leeds that I would happily see built in recycled garden waste to replace what is there.

[LeedsLad]

Just thought I'd yoink this back up top to see if anyone has heard anything as it all seems to have gone worryingly quiet... This was in my 'hope this Leeds project starts soon Top 10' aswell dammit

[aviator]

Originally Posted by LeedsLad

Just thought I'd yoink this back up top to see if anyone has heard anything as it all seems to have gone worryingly quiet... This was in my 'hope this Leeds project starts soon Top 10' aswell dammit

By a strange coincidence, I spotted the latest City Centre Audit yesterday. It contained this:

"One of two proposed major retail developments in the city centre at present is the Trinity Quarter. Plans for the 400,000 sq ft development, bounded by Briggate, Boar Lane, Albion Street and Commercial Street, have been subject to delays that have prevented the addition of much needed quality retail floorspace. Work on the development has reached a significant milestone and is awaiting the result of a public inquiry, which took place in January 2006, into the use of compulsory purchase powers to consolidate land ownership."

Presumably, once TOPS Estates had made their complaint about the planning process and the council's use of CPO, there was no way to stop the legal process of the public enquiry even though TOPS had come to an agreement with USS and Land Lease.

[Val Verde]

I agree with that it has been ridiculous that Trinity Quarter which I remember was announced SIX! years ago (or maybe it was even longer) has not yet commenced. Also wouldn't there be a point where rents would rise so high with the limited retail space as to make Leeds City Centre uncompetitive to rival shopping centres elsewhere in the local area and in other major cities where rents would be so high that a retailer would choose to locate somewhere else. This is why Trinity and of course Eastgate is desperately needed to develop the retail offer in Leeds further from whats available at present and it is unbelievable how this was delayed for so long because of silly schoolboy argueing between property developers. Shame really as this centre could have been open for as early as 2004!

[jimbo]

it really is a complete farce. if the developers had worked together they could have been close to opening by now. I reckon Harewood/Eastgate, barring a falling out between TCS and Hammersons, could steal a march on Trinity Quarter and actually deliver the class A retail space the city requires earlier.

the old Burton Arcade is a complete disgrace to be fair, but I don't think Leeds's retail future hangs on this by any stretch of the imagination.

[Fred2]

Originally Posted by jimbo

the old Burton Arcade is a complete disgrace to be fair, but I don't think Leeds's retail future hangs on this by any stretch of the imagination.

Its neighbour across the road, Market Street Arcade, is far far worse. Part of the problem with Burton Arcade is that it is has been half empty for some time awaiting the long protracted Trinity develoipment getting under way. At least it has undergone one refurbishment in its lifetime - unlike Market Street Arcade which is a disgrace to Leeds and its claim to being an attractive shopping centre.

[harryd]

Just strolling through here today - there was a sign on the Peter Jones shop saying 'Closing Down Sale - Due to Redevelopment'

I don't know whether this means anything is imminent however - they're probably getting out while the going is good.