Plans submitted for City Reach 2 on former bus depot site
Plans have been submitted for a second phase of mixed-use residential led regeneration of the City Reach development in Leeds, which would see development of both the Yorkshire Chemical Works site and adjoining former bus depot.
Developers Inhabit, acting for Clyde Ltd, are seeking to regenerate the two sites on Kirkstall Road, as part of the City Reach development.
Outline planning permission is already in place for City Reach One (CR1), where the Yorkshire Chemicals Works site is located, for up to 1,010 residential and student homes, commercial floorspace and public realm. The bus depot to the west of the chemicals site would be developed and named City Reach 2 (CR2) under new plans submitted.
The proposals will collectively deliver 1,058 homes across a variety of tenures and types, including Build to Rent (BTR), open market and affordable. Alongside this would be 309 student apartments in CR1 only. A range of complementary supporting uses will also be provided alongside new public realm and pedestrian/cycle links.
The latest planning application submitted to to Leeds City Council states: “Inhabit’s acquisition of CR2 has enabled an enhanced and comprehensive design development process to take place across both sites.”
Both City Reach 1 and City Reach 2 are being progressed individually through the planning process but will create a connected and integrated development once constructed, Inhabit said.
They firm added: “The strategic benefits of this are twofold; firstly, development can be distributed across the two sites at a lower density and scale than the maximum approved for CR1 by the outline planning permission (OPP), therefore allowing a greater quantum of public open space to be provided.
“Secondly, the basement car parking proposed by the OPP within CR1 is to be removed in response to flooding concerns at the site, reflecting both residents’ perceptions (and, therefore, scheme success) and the technical appropriateness of this. A more effective and practical solution is now achieved at surface level via a landscaped-led approach, including part of CR1’s parking needs being met by CR2.”
Inhabit intend to begin construction of CR1 in the summer of 2018 and bring the site forward as a single development phase, with completion expected in summer 2020. CR2 would be progressed through the planning process alongside this and its construction is anticipated to start post-CR1 completion.
The outline component of the scheme for CR2 demonstrates that up to 44,000 sq mt can be developed within the proposed development space, equating to around 530 homes.
Inhabit added: “Both individually and collectively, the sites represent major brownfield opportunities in a gateway location at the western edge of the City Centre. This area has been earmarked for regeneration for almost ten years and the proposals will catalyse future investment in the wider Kirkstall Road area.”
The developer added: “The collective number of homes is not significantly greater than the maximum consented by the OPP on CR1. The scheme is therefore less dense, set at a lower height and provides a greater amount of publically accessible space that that already consented.”
