Green light for £210m South Bank development

The next stage in the South Bank regeneration scheme has been given the green light, with Leeds City Council unanimously granting planning permission for the £210, X1 South Bank scheme.

The mixed-use development by developer X1 and property consultancy Knight Knox will be completed over five phases. Located on the former Evans Halshaw site on Hunslet Road, X1 South Bank is intended to provide a brand-new neighbourhood in the heart of the regeneration area, with 928 residential apartments, cafes and restaurants, in addition to office and retail space.

X1’s planning and design team – which includes DK Architects, Turley Associates, Planit-IE, Savills and Hydrock – has worked with the council to ensure that the development meets all requirements for publicly accessible green space and amenities and achieves its objective of creating a thriving new sustainable community hub.

X1 South Bank will contain a mixture of apartment types, including one- to three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, as well as two- and three-bedroom townhouses. Amenities in the development will include generous balconies, roof terraces, on-site gyms, resident-only podium gardens, landscaped green space and secure basement parking.

Melissa Green, operations director at X1, said: “Leeds is booming and we’re so proud to officially say we’re going to play a significant part in its growth with X1 South Bank. Our whole design team has made it their mission to create a development that not only offers first-rate accommodation, but that will genuinely enhance the area for the wider Leeds population by providing striking modern architecture, exciting commercial units and vibrant public space.”

Andy Phillips, commercial director at Knight Knox, said: “We’re delighted that planning has been approved for X1 South Bank. It’s a truly landmark development that’s set to transform this currently vacant area of the city and we can’t wait for it to start taking shape. We’re committed to providing high quality residential and commercial property for investors, tenants and local communities, and X1 South Bank is no exception – it’ll play an important role in Leeds’ future.”

Leeds City Council is transforming South Bank through a project that will double the size of Leeds City Centre by delivering 8,000 homes and 35,000 new jobs, as well as world-class green space.

Chair of Leeds City Council’s City Plans Panel Councillor Jim McKenna said: “The City Plans Panel was pleased to approve this significant development, which will provide a range of new housing options and public realm improvements to transform this area of the city centre in an attractive, modern and imaginative way.  We look forward to watching it develop with interest.”

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis added: “This large-scale and ambitious plan coming forward for this site provides further evidence of the growing confidence investors and developers have in our plans for the regeneration of the South Bank, providing new housing, leisure amenities and attractive public space in a sustainable way.  It also reinforces our commitment to building on brownfield sites first wherever possible, revitalising large vacant sites such as this and adding to the reputation of the South Bank as a place for people and families to live, work and visit.”