£18m Opera North re-development gets the green light

Opera North, England’s national opera company based in Leeds, has been granted planning permission for an£18m redevelopment project which will set to create a world-class centre for music in the heart of the city.

The plans will create improved facilities for artists and for audiences, as well as a new education centre to house Opera North’s programme of arts activities for children, young people and families. The proposal has now been granted full planning permission and listed building consent.

A new restaurant and bar will regenerate a commercial section of New Briggate, replacing a row of four vacant shop units directly beneath the Howard Assembly Room and adjacent to Leeds Grand Theatre, providing audiences with convenient, high quality dining as well as making significant enhancements to the historic frontage of the building, the approach to the venues, and the wider civic space of New Briggate.

The Howard Assembly Room, a ‘hidden gem’ which is programmed and managed by Opera North but currently accessed via Leeds Grand Theatre, will have its own dedicated entrance and box office next to the restaurant, with a new atrium space providing direct stairs and lift access and improved front of house facilities.

Further development of Opera North’s estate on Harrison Street, between New Briggate and Vicar Lane, will create an artistic hub for the company’s creative work, connecting two current theatrical rehearsal studios, offices in Premier House, and costume workshop with new music practice rooms and a ‘state of the art’ Music Rehearsal Studio for the musicians in Opera North’s Orchestra and Chorus.

The new Education Centre will house studio spaces and teaching facilities for Youth Ensembles, Early Years and Family groups, Schools’ workshops, and singing groups and courses for adults. Education is an extensive part of Opera North’s work, with an annual turnover of over £1m invested in the region’s young people.

The changes will enable Opera North to increase the number of gigs, concerts and events held at the Howard Assembly Room. Since its opening, following its restoration in 2009, the 300-seat venue has been celebrated for its diverse, cross-genre programme, including film screenings, children’s operas, jazz, world music and folk, classical concerts, talks, installations, and innovative new commissions.

Opera North permanently employs more than 250 people including costume-makers, stage managers, electricians, stage technicians, props makers, sound and lighting technicians, educators, designers, and musicians, in addition to freelance performers, creatives and artists. Its productions are created and premiered in Leeds, and the company performs at Leeds Grand Theatre each season before touring its productions to theatres across the country.

Richard Mantle, general director at Opera North, said: “Following this successful outcome for our planning application, we will now move forward with the redevelopment work to create a truly world-class arts hub to meet the needs of our audiences, our artistic company, and our home city of Leeds. We believe the development will result in real enhancements to both the day and night-time economy and culture of New Briggate and the Grand Quarter and will act as a catalyst for further improvements in the surrounding public space.

“I am delighted to say that we have already secured a significant level of funding from private and public sources, and this Autumn will see the launch of a large-scale fundraising campaign, to raise the remaining funds needed to fully realise this £18 million project and deliver a vibrant cultural programme, placing music in the heart of Leeds.”