New era for former YP site as plans approved

PLANS for a major mixed-use development on the former Yorkshire Post site have been given the go-ahead by council bosses.

The plans will provide around 50,000sqm of office floorspace, 200 homes and a range of other uses, including cafes, shops and leisure facilities.

The scheme will bring in a new era for this key “gateway” site, which was historically the location of the world’s first wool mill, prior to being replaced by the iconic YP print and office buildings in 1970.

The YP Buildings were themselves demolished last year, following the relocation of the paper’s workforce to No 1 Leeds on Whitehall Road in readiness for the site’s redevelopment.

The new scheme will open up a previously inaccessible stretch of the city’s waterfront, with the proposals incorporating an extensive area (around 40%) of the site) of new public realm and open space that will take advantage of the riverside setting and provide public areas between the new buildings.

The outline planning application was unanimously supported by Leeds City Council, resolving to approve it, subject to finalisation of details with officers and the signing of a legal agreement to secure affordable housing provision, public transport improvements and other developer contributions.

Tim Waring, director of Quod, planning consultants for the project, said: “The council’s support for the scheme will spark the early regeneration of this high profile site, bringing about a huge transformation to this important part of Leeds. Once complete it will create a vibrant addition to the city centrefocus, while also helping the council to meet its future economic and housing needs.”

Paul Fox of Fox Lloyd Jones, the scheme’s agents said: “This is a very positive outcome and is testament to the efforts of our entire team. We can now move onto the delivery phase with greater certainty, which is key given the number of positive discussions we are having.”

The development team behind the application for YP Real Estate are Sheppard Robson Architects, Quod Planning Consultants, Fox Lloyd Jones and DTZ as letting agents, Buro Happold as Engineers and Croft Transport/SLR, which has dealt with the Highways and other related matters such as flood risk, ground conditions and noise.