Consultation launches on ambitious South Bank plans

A public consultation on the ambitious proposals to regenerate the South Bank area of Leeds, which could effectively double the size of the city centre, has been launched.Covering an area the size of 250 football pitches, the ambition for the area is to provide more than 35,000 jobs and 4,000 homes and for it to become a “leading European destination” for living, working and leisure.It will also be home to a new educational hub accessed by 10,000 students as well as featuring community facilities and leisure attractions to further strengthen connections with surrounding areas and the wider city as a whole.A key element of the proposals is how to integrate and maximise the opportunities around the redevelopment of Leeds Station for the arrival of high-speed HS2 and HS3 rail.The consultation, which will run for three months until 15 November 2016, asks for views on proposals to form a framework for future development.