BTR apartment scheme plans lodged for historic site

Plans have been lodged for the redevelopment of a landmark site central to Leeds’ industrial heritage to provide a range of new build-to-rent (BTR) apartments.Cedar (Maple Oak) Ltd, a company owned by the Richardson family, alongside its development partner Ask Real Estate, has submitted a planning application to develop the historic Tower Works site on Globe Road in Leeds city centre.Tower Works was established in the 1860s as a steel pin factory for carding and combing in the textile industry. The works closed in 1981 and have been earmarked for regeneration for many years. One of the buildings has previously been redeveloped to provide space for creative and digital companies.The original Victorian buildings, designed by Thomas Shaw, are famous for their Italianate influence, including three prominent towers, Verona; Giotto and Little Chimney, which will be a focal point of the new scheme. Planning permission is sought for the development of two new residential buildings, providing 245 one-, two- and three-bedroom BTR apartments and duplexes to the south of the railway station.Ground floor commercial uses will be created as well as new areas of public realm to enable a pedestrian route through from the city centre to the Holbeck Urban Village neighbourhood. Cedar (Maple Oak) Ltd has also selected a preferred contractor for the work, with an announcement to be made in the coming weeks. Enabling works will then start on site once planning approval is achieved.Pre-application plans for the scheme were previously presented to the council at a meeting in April.The Tower Works team also includes project manager and quantity surveyor Faithful + Gould; Ryder Architecture and WSP Engineering.