'Victoria Gate' retail development

[Leeds No.1]

My only worry is that building the anchor first endangers the rest of the scheme from never going ahead.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by tomd89

I prefer this to delaying the whole project indefinitely.

I agree. If you think about it, the Harewood Quarter scheme has been delayed longer than Trinity was. Leeds isn't deperate for a John Lewis, but it is in need of the Harewood Quarter. I don't know why all the elements of EQ have to be built almost at the same time.

[FreddyFresher]

Originally Posted by di Livio

I agree. If you think about it, the Harewood Quarter scheme has been delayed longer than Trinity was. Leeds isn't deperate for a John Lewis, but it is in need of the Harewood Quarter. I don't know why all the elements of EQ have to be built almost at the same time.

As stated a few times on the thread, the reason is that without JL there is no scheme. But without a covered car park with direct access to the store, no JL. So JL and the car park must be completed at the same time. The car park is built upon the mall that comprises the rest of the scheme, so, building the car park forces you to build the mall.

In sum, you have to build pretty much all at once.

[Leeds No.1]

But perhaps this is how the scheme has been modified, so that the car park is on the JL side; or alternative there will be more than one car park.

It was reported recently on here that they had 46% (if I recall correctly) of space signed up for; not sure if that's through M&S and JL, or if more retailers are signed up, but if it's just JL/M&S then it means once the Harewood side is built, the Templar Arcade side is resting on M&S... who don't really need a new store in Leeds, even though a larger one would be nice.

[Val Verde]

Originally Posted by di Livio

I agree. If you think about it, the Harewood Quarter scheme has been delayed longer than Trinity was. Leeds isn't deperate for a John Lewis, but it is in need of the Harewood Quarter. I don't know why all the elements of EQ have to be built almost at the same time.

I would have thought Leeds has long been desperate for a John Lewis particularly since the demise of one time Leeds department store giants of Schofields and Lewis's / Allders.

Still the Eastgate scheme really does need more than just retail imo in a bid to give more life to the place than just a place for shopping. I guess it is still up in the air as to whether it will finally commence construction in 2013 considering the state of the economy in relation to the struggling retail sector in particular and the wider national wider economy generally. I would be interested to see how the likely to be soon vacated Millgarth police station would play into plans for Eastgate as surely I can't see the developers building Eastgate whilst leaving Millgartth Police Station derelict or as an empty void.

[Skychaser 2005]

I beleive that JL and M & S are the linchpins to this project and would be happy for these 2 developments go ahead with a multi storey car park and nothing else at this stage. JL would be a major attraction for Leeds and bring in many shoppers and money to the city. Whatever LCC do now, they can't lose the opportunity for them to be in their shiny new Leeds store by 2016. Shops or no shops, just lets make sure JL comes to Leeds ideally with M & S and the car park built too.

[this_city]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

I would be interested to see how the likely to be soon vacated Millgarth police station would play into plans for Eastgate as surely I can't see the developers building Eastgate whilst leaving Millgartth Police Station derelict or as an empty void.

Isn't there a stipulation that whatever is built on the Milgarth site cannot cover the beck/ stream so the designers will need to take that into consideration

[Leeds No.1]

JL have pulled out of Sevenstone. Could interpret that as a bad sign, but on the contrary I hope that can only be a good sign for Leeds, showing they want to focus on getting a Leeds store open as their priority.

[Master_P]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

JL have pulled out of Sevenstone. Could interpret that as a bad sign, but on the contrary I hope that can only be a good sign for Leeds, showing they want to focus on getting a Leeds store open as their priority.

I wouldn't say pulled out is the right word. They have confirmed that they will be staying where they are (which has been on the cards for at least 18 months). It sounds as though they are going to look to start to refurb prior to Sevenstone getting underway, however

[Leeds No.1]

The point still stands; Hammerson are now without their key anchor at Sevenstone.

[Master_P]

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/...hink_1_4302838

If you read the atricle it doesn't actually say that. This is probably the reason for the revised budget for the project

[FreddyFresher]

Originally Posted by this_city

Isn't there a stipulation that whatever is built on the Milgarth site cannot cover the beck/ stream so the designers will need to take that into consideration

Correct.

[10123]

John Lewis will be staying at there current location, there not moving to Sevenstone.

[Master_P]

The above is not really anything new. its been on the cards for months. yes john Lewis will not be moving to a new store however as most of the land for sevenstone wraps around jl they are still very much party to the discussions/planning

[10123]

Isn't this why the development has been cut in half though.

[bd250110]

I don't think looking at what JL are doing in other locations is hugely helpful. I accept that if JL is contracting, fair enough, but it is not. They are still rolling out their smaller format stores and JL at home. Leeds is almost a case independent of the macro economic environment. It is a retail destination, in its own right, with a large and relatively wealthy population, both within the city and in the hinterland. JL have absolutely no presence whatsoever in the region and strategically 'need' one. Of all the stores that may be in danger of never happening, I don't think Eastgate is one of them. They have had multiple opportunities to relocate to the likes of The Core or Lewis's.

Over the years there have been a few proposals for this site, of course the latest one being the JL store in the "bread bin", to the south of Eastgate, with Templar Arcade to the North and the carpark abutting the IRR. If Hammerson want to deliver JL and a car park, I think an earlier design, with JL to the North of Eastgate might have to be dusted off? Are there any renders of the earlier incarnations? What was the plan for Hogy's and when JL was to be part of the Eastgate development proper?

[Shiny_Dave]

The EB agenda item on Eastgate next week is about delivering John Lewis by 2016 and having to change the legal documents. If it was for full planning permission would there be so much cloak and dagger (Nb there are several financial docs not included)?

Report

CBRE who were a major player in helping Hammerson deliver the outline application have recently stated that Hammerson may deliver the scheme in two phases (see top of page 2)

John Lewis are committed to Leeds.

etc etc

A John Lewis would require an adjacent car park.

Car park opportunities if only south of Eastgate is developed:
- Millgarth Police Station - New Elland Rd police station by 2014 meaning Millgarth is free. The beck however causes problems for development.

- Kirkgate Open Market - Consultants recommendation was to shrink Leeds Market and create a speculative development opportunity on the current open market site. Site is opposite proposed John Lewis. Also FOLKM have been consulted on the Hammerson proposal going to EB next week and have still to comment on their blog about EB agreeing to shrink the Market. Also a future terminus for NGT.

- Current car park on north side of Eastgate. No direct connections to JL

- Recent extension for planning permission for car park at Quarry Hill. No direct connections to JL

- an other??????

[Shiny_Dave]

Is Something Fishy Going on in the Eastgate Scheme
March 3, 2012

Hot on the heels of Leeds City Council’s crazy decision to reduce the size of Kirkgate Market by 25% as part of a remodelled market click here we learn that the adjacent Eastgate retail scheme could now be in trouble.

Development giants, Hammerson are asking the council – and the city to bend over backwards to make sure that John Lewis are part of the planned Eastgate shopping mall. A confidential document will be considered by councillors this week but the proposed changes will not be made public and will be discussed at a private pre meeting of the council’s Executive Board.

Readers will recall that ‘Eastgate‘ is a £650m retail development covering a 1 million sq ft area that involves demolishing most of the existing Eastgate Terraces and iconic buildings like the Lyons Works Factory to make way for new John Lewis and Marks & Spencer stores and some 130 new shops, restaurants and bars. Having already been delayed once and forced to abandon a residential substantially revised due to the global financial crisis, a new outline planning application was approved in September 2011.

Friends of Leeds Kirkgate Market along with the Market Traders Federation and about 180 traders/members of the public actively opposed the Eastgate scheme due to major concerns about its likely impact on the Market. One of these objections concerned the design of the John Lewis store which turned its back on the Market and the potential traffic chaos on George Street as a result of John Lewis traffic and the creation of a new one-way traffic system. Another concern was the potential lack of demand for yet more shops in Leeds City Centre particularly in times of economic crisis. But Hammerson presented consultancy reports that assured the council and the public that the project was commercially viable. Now we learn in this new report that in fact to make the John Lewis store commercially viable “Changes will be required to the existing legal documentation”. What changes? John Lewis clearly has doubts over the scheme.

Shortly after the Eastgate plans were given outline planning permission last year, John Lewis chief exec Andy Street said: “To bring the huge retail regeneration of the city centre of the scale of Eastgate, this isn’t just about John Lewis, lots of other things in the background have got to come together. That’s what we keep saying to the chief executive and leader of Leeds City Council. You’ve got to make that context happen so Hammerson can deliver their commercial piece.” (LeedsBusinessDeskinterviewNovember 2011)

Friends of Leeds Kirkgate Market only heard about these proposed changes from the LeedsCitizen blog so we read with surprise in the report going to Executive Board that “Meetings have been held on a regular basis with the Civic Trust, the Kirkgate Market Forum (traders & members) and there has been dialogue with the Friends of the Kirkgate Market” (paragraph 4.1.1.).

FOLKM had one meeting with Hammerson on the 1st of June last year – a 40 minute power point presentation and a frustrating session where we asked questions which Hammerson didn’t or couldn’t answer. This can hardly be described as “dialogue”.

Is this an attempt to convince John Lewis that everyone is on board and waiting to welcome them to the city with open arms? What is it that would make our city a more attractive proposition for John Lewis? How will it affect the market? Why is John Lewis calling the shots over this scheme? Why are these decisions and discussions taking place behind closed doors?

FOLKM

[Skychaser 2005]

Where has this report come from?

[Electric_City]

Is it this one..?
http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgConv....aspx?ID=64943