Fire-hit former cinema gets new lease of life
PLANS for the former Majestic building in Leeds’ City Square have been revealed.
Developers Rushbond are transforming the building, which was built in the 1920s as a cinema, into 65,000 sq ft offices.
The plans include leisure and cafe spaces as well as a restores structure with a new roof. They are due to go before Leeds City Council on 7 July.
A planning application is due to be submitted in August this year and subject to planning, work could commence in early 2017
The building has been used as a bingo hall and nightclub, before a fire in September 2014.
Mark Finch, director of the Leeds based property company Rushbond, in unveiling the plans, said: “The fire was a truly sad and devastating episode in the building’s life and traumatic for all those involved. Our focus is now on making the building once again majestic, so that it can truly contribute to the future economic prosperity of the City, through viable and sustainable uses.”
The plans would see the ground floor being used as office, leisure and cafe spaces, with a grand three-storey height space offering a stunning new entrance into the core of the building. New floors would be inserted into the structure and an iconic new crown roof created.
Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council said: “This distinctive and high-quality development will attract international interest. Leeds city centre continues to thrive, with major schemes like this demonstrating a high level of confidence in the city’s growing economy and our ambitions for the future.”
Gerald Jennings, president at Leeds Chamber of Commerce, added: “Significant developments like this demonstrate the ability Leeds has to attract major investment and Rushbond are to be applauded in bringing such an innovative scheme forward.”
