Landmark Leeds redevelopment set for green light

Plans for the wholescale redevelopment of a landmark site in Leeds into a mixed-use business and residential scheme which could support almost 6,000 jobs have been recommended for approval.The Tetley Brewery site is one of the key development opportunities in Leeds and is being brought forward by Vastint, which has owned the land in question since 2015.Ahead of a Leeds City Council planning meeting next week (12 October 2017), the report of the chief planning officer recommends that the plans be deferred for approval subject to a section 106 agreement.The plans include space for up to 850 residential units and 915,000 sq ft of business floorspace which it is thought could support 5,720 jobs.Of the 850 proposed homes, 85 would be studio apartments, 230 would be one-bedroomed, 365 two-bedroomed and 170 three-bedroomed apartments. A total of five per cent of the residential units would be affordable housing.There is also 161,500 sq ft set aside for uses including shops, restaurants, bars and take-aways as well as accommodation for financial and professional service providers.Vastint aims to create a new urban quarter or neighbourhood within the South Bank area of the city.There is also provision for two hotels with a total of 400 beds and a five-acre city park centred around The Tetley and framed by mixed use, commercial and residential buildings with active ground floor uses.A landmark hotel building is pencilled in for the junction of Great Wilson Street and Meadow Lane, a key approach route to Leeds city centre from the south as well as in a visible location from the proposed HS2 station.The section 106 agreement would include provision for off-site highways works being a new pedestrian crossing on Crown Point Road between Bowman Lane and Sheaf Street costing £70,000, a contribution of £364,000 to a City Connect cycle scheme and a contribution of £500,000 to the creation of Sovereign footbridge.Vastint would also provide £162,488.75 for the sustainable travel fund, a car club contribution of £69,350 and a travel plan monitoring fee of £20,000.