Major Leeds scheme gets green light
A 1m sq ft commercial scheme that will create around 1,500 new jobs in Leeds has been given the green light.
The long-awaited redevelopment of Gelderd Road, Gildersome – which has been subject to numerous failed planning applications over the past 14 years – will create a 500,000 sq ft distribution centre, warehousing and a mix of light and heavy industrial units. The site is conveniently located at the junction 1 of the M621 and J27 of the M62.
Planning consultancy Turley in Leeds, acting for Commercial Development Projects (CDP), part of Marshall Group, was appointed in 2013 not long after CDP acquired the site, to revitalise and readdress a stalled application.
The revised scheme was presented to Leeds City Council in October 2013 following an extensive review and rationalisation of the proposed scheme. Turley and CDP revised and represented the plans for the site, which had significant challenges in relation to highways, flooding, ecology and visual impact.
Matthew Sheppard, a director and head of environmental impact assessment in the Leeds office of Turley, said: “We are delighted to have worked closely with Leeds City Council to secure this very positive Panel resolution. The site was allocated for development in 2001, but it has taken 14 years for a succession of applicants to resolve the significant technical challenges it presented. This site will deliver much needed new jobs over the next few years, and will also provide high quality industrial space on a build to suit basis, which is a much needed injection of modern stock in this area of the city.
“My clients are now working hard on finalising infrastructure works and intend to submit the first phase reserved matters application as soon as the formal decision notice to received. They would be very pleased to discuss the site with any businesses who are looking for new space in the foreseeable future.”
