Ambitious plans for Leeds south bank

BUSINESS leaders will have the chance to shape development plans for the centre of Leeds that councillors hope will help create thousands of jobs.

The centrepiece of the plans is a new park to introduce green space to the city centre that will open up the waterfront and help attract new businesses and retail investment to the area.

A draft planning statement for the area south of the River Aire between Crown Point Road and Victoria Road has been drawn up and on Wednesday councillors are expected to agree to open a public consultation on the plans.

Leeds City Council  believes redeveloping that area could create as many as 20,000 jobs.

Major landowners in the area are Asda, which has its headquarters on Great Wilson Street, McAleer and Rushe and Carlsberg Tetley, which is closing its Tetley brewery in 2011.

Coun Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We have an aspiration for that part of Leeds which is to promote a city centre park both as a destination in its own right and as a catalyst for the reconnection of the South Bank to the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.

“It is expected that this area of the city centre is likely to change significantly in the next few years. This draft planning statement is the starting point to ensure that any change will provide a long-lasting legacy for the south bank of the city and be a spur to the long-term regeneration of that part of the city.

“We are facing massive cuts from the Government but this should not stop us having aspirations and plans for the future.”