Leeds Dock set for transport boost

PLANS to boost transport links to a city centre waterside development have been approved by the council.

More than £1.5m is set to be spent on making it easier to visit or commute to Leeds Dock, which opened in 2007, under proposals including new cycling routes, shuttle buses and a water taxi.

A Leeds City Council report said the cost of providing the transport links would cost £1,547,500 over five years, with the dock owners Allied London meeting most of the bill.

Allied London bought the site’s 150-year lease in 2012 and unveiled plans to revitalise the area. 

The report said: “The issues surrounding the lack of success of the area are well documented, the former proposition failed, partly due to connectivity issues from the city centre. The new owner, Allied London, has a renewed vision and development proposition to attract new creative and digital businesses, enhance the facilities for local residents and workers, and animate the public realm to attract visitors of all ages to the waterfront, thereby helping to help drive footfall and exposure to the nearby Royal Armouries. 

“If successful, this will significantly help to realise the city’s vision for South Bank and have a significant and positive impact on the local economy.

“Allied London has a strong track record in delivering successful regeneration, as exemplified by the successful Spinningfields scheme in Manchester which faced similar issues to those facing Leeds Dock. Key to this was close partnership working, and support from, the Local Authority.”

Allied has appointed Leeds commercial property consultancy WSB as its agents for the redevelopment of Leeds Dock. There is more than 100,000 sq ft of available workspace, including 58,000 sq ft of waterside ground floor studio space and 60,000 sq ft in the form of The Engine, which is being described as a “super-building workspace concept”.

Duncan Senior, partner at WSB, said: “Leeds Dock brings something entirely new to the city’s offer, a new urban campus and concept which will pioneer workplace design allowing occupiers to configure their own working environment in a way that works for them and allowing creative use of the dock side with informal working and meeting spaces which are an extension of the traditional office.”