As one of Europe’s largest city centre redevelopment sites, the proposed regeneration of the South Bank area will be the biggest change Leeds has seen since Leeds Bradford International airport opened in 1931. The South Bank redevelopment is going to be a game changer for Leeds and is set to double the size of the city centre with an area equivalent to 250 football pitches.
It’s a really exciting project that will transform the area to create the opportunity for significant investment into the city. South Bank is already an established business area which showcases a diverse range of sectors which contribute to the Leeds economy. It is already home to Leeds City College, the UK headquarters of Asda and True North (the largest independent television production company in the North) and with Sky opening its digital centre and telecommunications company, aql choosing to locate its data centre in the area as well as the new Duke Studios creative workspace facility, South Bank is emerging as a key hub for creative, digital and technical industries which will reinforce the already strong investment confidence in these sectors in the city.
South Bank is also the proposed location for a new HS2 station, which will integrate with the current train station, creating a world class gateway which should strengthen Leeds' position as the largest financial and professional services centre outside of London. The new southern entrance to Leeds train station has already created connectivity to South Bank, boosting the regeneration potential of this fast evolving part of the city.
Interestingly, the proposed redevelopment will also hopefully secure the future of the city’s heritage by resurrecting some of the iconic (and now derelict) listed buildings in the area which were once at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. For example, Burberry has announced the relocation of its manufacturing facilities to the Grade 1 - Listed Temple Works building, which is an initial investment worth over £50m.
Other South Bank schemes include:
- Tower Works: £80m mixed used scheme including 160 residential units;
- Iron Works: 73 residential units and retail space;
- A new 3.5 hectare park and improved infrastructure including superfast broadband; and
- New Generation Transport system with proposals for a water taxi and shuttle bus services from the train station, two new bridges and improvements to cycle and pedestrian networks within Leeds South Bank and to surrounding areas.
South Bank Leeds regeneration has already brought a lot to the table and we are not even half way there. With a series of landmark residential developments , a creative, digital and technical hub as well as an educational hub, South Bank is a real window of opportunity for Leeds to become one of the most competitive locations for investment in the world.
This blog has been written by and posted on behalf of Celia McGrath (Associate).
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