West Riding House

[joeyB_86]

Originally Posted by Fred2

Incidentally, I don't think WRH makes a break of significance. There's not much behind it - certainly no more shopping.

And neither will there be while it remains.

[Fred2]

Originally Posted by joeyB_86

And neither will there be while it remains.

Not so. The area behind is not zoned for shopping, WRH or no WRH.

[mark*ie]

Thanks for the photo Fred, great insight to what once was, Incidently my uncle worked on the construction of WRH.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by Fred2

Stunning photo, Fred.

My problem with West Riding is more to do with breaking up a consistent height of building rather than zones of shopping/banking. I just don't like the way it looms large over everything, but i guess it's a matter of personal taste.

[Fred2]

Originally Posted by di Livio

Stunning photo, Fred.

My problem with West Riding is more to do with breaking up a consistent height of building rather than zones of shopping/banking. I just don't like the way it looms large over everything, but i guess it's a matter of personal taste.

Your point of view is perfectly valid di Livio and one I have held for long. I just think on balance that it is not all bad - as I suggested.

[Leeds No.1]

Wouldn't the same be said of Bridgewater Place; that looms over everything and certainly breaks consistent height. The same is true of most of the city's tall buildings.

WRH is fine in terms of position- it doesnt break the city up and the podium fits exactly to the streets. You don't notice WRH from street level. It doesn't create a physical barrier because of that; not like ASDA, Quarry House, LGI/Universities do as large, low rise buildings.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

Wouldn't the same be said of Bridgewater Place; that looms over everything and certainly breaks consistent height. The same is true of most of the city's tall buildings.

Aye, but BWP is not right in the centre of the central shopping quarter.



WRH on a bad day

image hosted on flickr




image hosted on flickr




image hosted on flickr



WRH on a good day


image hosted on flickr

[Leeds No.1]

If it was demolished, another tall would need to replace it. It would feel ike something was missing. K2 is in the central area, as is Park Plaza. Opal will be to Briggate wat WRH is to King Edward Street/Albion Place. I hope it provides a similar focal point (BWP does this on The Calls too). I think this lacks eastwards on Albion Place/King Edward Street too. Quarry Hill is too far away to make any good impact without a major tall.

[Rob]

The emerging tall buildings policy by the city council almost centres on a 'ridge' of tall buildings that runs north/south. This of course includes WRH right in the middle. High rise clusters are developing at the north (university) and south (riverside) ends of this high rise ridge, but the ridge connects them.

You are therefore quite right No.1 that it fills a gap, and it's almost policy well not quite, but is clearly recognised

[Stefan88]

What is happening with the sign on top of WRH. Some of the letters on opposite side to the shopping part of the centre don't work. They were replaced and worked for about a month then broke again.

[aviator]

The reclad of WRH seems to be almost complete though no sign as yet of who might be moving into the refurbished units.

[New_To _This_City]

I love the way WRH looks especially when viewed broad side on, as it is in the photo at the start of the thread. Im agreeing with Liam and Subliving in saying it looks gggrrrrreeeat!!!

[Rob]

Good, you join one of a small band of West Riding House supporters.

[aviator]

There's a bit of movement on the new occupants for the refurbished units at WRH. This week's planning applications list contains details of Urban Outfitters' application for Unit A along Albion Street.

[SirCWilson]

Originally Posted by aviator

There's a bit of movement on the new occupants for the refurbished units at WRH. This week's planning applications list contains details of Urban Outfitters' application for Unit A along Albion Street.

...and as it doesn't seem to have made it to this thread (but I think it has on the retail one), we might as well add that Tesco are taking the old Safeway unit.

And before this morning I hadn't seen Fred's photo of the old Stock Exchange. Superb photo, Fred. Got any more? How about a thread of 'Fred's Old Photos'?

[silverriver]

Urban Outfitters are definitely taking a unit in WRH? That's like the best new addition to Leeds' retail scene in forever!

Great to see another supermarket in the city centre too, hopefully now articles saying its impossible for city centre dwellers to do their food shopping will stop, what with various convenience stores, a Sainsburys, a second on its way, this tesco, the one at CD and of course Morrison's...

[Leeds No.1]

Really good news about Urban Outfitters! When might it be open then? The unit here will help to bring this side of the city up to scratch. Interesting to hear they are opening here rather than VQ/Briggate area, or CD.

[silverriver]

Yeah i thought briggate or broadgate would make more sense but i guess its a big prominent-ish unit. They would NOT fit in in VQ at all and with a primarily student target group it wouldve been stupid to open at CD.

[Leeds No.1]

CD is a good place to open; theres lots of student accomodation there.

I dont mean VQ itself, but the area around it would be more favourable, you would think. Ie Briggate/Vicar Lane then along The Headrow and up to The Light.

[tomd89]

Well this is a turn up for the books, who would have thought Urban Outfitters at WRH! I'm glad that it is opening in a more central location than CD, would have been a bit of a walk.