Developer starts work on Leeds South Bank bridge
Developer Citu is forging ahead with plans to construct a 50 metre pedestrian bridge in Leeds’ South Bank which will provide a vital link across the River Aire between the two sites of its Climate Innovation District.
The bridge will also connect previously isolated communities in Cross Green, Hunslet and the surrounding areas to a pedestrian route into the heart of the city, which Citu says will halve the time it takes to walk into the centre from 20 minutes down to10 minutes.
The bridge, which can also be used by cyclists in line with Leeds City Council’s highways policy on new infrastructure, will perform a duel role. As well as creating an integral link, the 1.5m bridge wide has been engineered to accommodate Leeds City Council’s planned £40m district heat network, which was approved last July, over the river to the landmark South Bank regeneration project.
Jonathan Wilson, development director at Citu, said: “The bridge will act as a catalyst for social and economic change at Hunslet Riverside and the wider South Bank. It will provide a crucial physical link across the river, better connecting the area to the city centre for pedestrians and cyclists; playing a key role in our ambition to create a car-free district in the heart of the city-centre.
“Citu’s whole ethos is to offer a model of how to build zero carbon neighbourhoods that also provide healthier, smarter and better-connected cities. Investing in this section of pipework for the district heat network infrastructure is an example of this, and we hope that the area will reap the economic and environmental benefits of having access to a low cost, low carbon heat source.”
The bridge is due for completion late summer 2018 to coincide with the first residents moving into homes at the Climate Innovation District; the first ecologically pioneering district of its scale in Europe. It will feature more than 520 low carbon Citu homes including apartments and houses, alongside manufacturing, leisure, offices and public realm.
Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Cllr Richard Lewis said: “This new footbridge will further enhance the South Bank regeneration, helping to improve connectivity and links to the heart of the city centre as well as being part of our exciting new city park project. The fact it will host the infrastructure for the new district heating network is also important as we look to get the network installed and operational helping to save people money on their heating bills and improving air quality in the city as soon as possible.”
Citu are now asking for members of the public to come up with a name for the bridge by tweeting their ideas to @CituUK. A winner will be chosen by Citu in May.
