Planning approval granted for Leeds Dock development
ALLIED London is one step further towards delivering its revolutionary plans for Leeds Dock, following the granting of planning permission for its new workspace concept, The Engine.
Developer Allied London’s vision for Leeds Dock involves the creation of a city centre neighbourhood and destination, located 500 metres south east of Leeds city centre.
The Engine will have more than 70,000 sq ft of flexible space and will be created on the site of the former Alea casino.
Michael Ingall, CEO of Allied London, said: “The creation of The Engine presents a unique opportunity for Leeds. Too many of the new, planned and vacant buildings in the city offer just a simple and traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ office space.
“This isn’t how the modern business wants to use space. Our view is that the modern workplace has changed and will continue to evolve. The Engine addresses this fact and will provide the modern, customisable space that fast paced emerging and corporate businesses desire.
“We are being inundated with demand for this workspace building model in Manchester and London’s Farringdon, and our careful market research tells us there will be similar significant demand for this product in Leeds. We already have great interest, and I believe this offer will help the city strengthen its pitch to inward investors.”
As well as The Engine plans being approved, Leeds Council has also agreed in principle to support a range of new transport and related infrastructure, including a new shuttle bus to the railway station and city centre, better cross-city wayfinding and improved cycle routes and facilities. This follows the on-going success of the water taxi service, which Allied London launched at the beginning of the summer.
Ingall added: “We’re creating an inclusive fusion of architecture, landscaping, culture, leisure and modern industry to provide a genuine mixed use destination. We will transform and re-energise this vital part of the Leeds Southbank – giving the city back the waterfront it deserves.
“We will create a contemporary open-plan workspace super building for modern industry – a concept we have applied and are already delivering in Manchester with the Cotton Building.
“Our Leeds Dock project has already commenced, and we know that a smaller but similar product here will be just as successful. Our current activity is quickly showing people the potential of what will be a new city centre community, and The Engine will be perfectly positioned as the workspace super building within what we hope will become an important new neighbourhood for Leeds.”
