New city centre campus proposed
Leeds City College, part of Luminate Education Group, has submitted outline plans to deliver new education and sports facilities, as part of a proposed new college campus near the city centre on Mabgate, Leeds.
The proposals which include high-quality education facilities, a sports complex, and a residential development are in response to the significant growth the college has seen over the last decade.
The new campus could transform a currently derelict 275,957sq ft site, bringing investment and regeneration to the area whilst helping to provide much-needed community facilities.
It marks the latest investment by the college who has been working to provide students with ‘inspiring education facilities’ and follows the recent opening of its Quarry Hill campus.
Designed by Leeds-based architecture practice Cartwright Pickard, the proposed scheme is in the early stages of development, with an outline planning application, which establishes the principles of the project, submitted for approval to Leeds City Council.
The scheme will look to balance modern and innovative facilities with the industrial heritage of the area. For example, the existing Victorian-era brick building, Studio 24, will be retained and sensitively uplifted to be used as an entrance to the campus.
The on-site sports complex, which would include a roof-top Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and could be used for community purposes, would go some way to meeting the high demand for additional sports facilities at the college. The draft plans also include space for a residential block, which is flexibly designed to accommodate a wide variety of residential properties, helping to address the housing need in Leeds city centre.
Bill Jones, principal at Leeds City College, said, “Our ambition on Mabgate is to deliver a campus which will enhance the learning experience of our students and be widely used by members of the local community.
“These new facilities will complement our existing city centre campuses and provide our students with much needed additional teaching space. The new sports complex will be an essential element of this project and establish Leeds City College as a destination for sport studies.
“The development will bring investment and regeneration to the area, and is anticipated to act as a catalyst for further investment in this part of Leeds.
“We are thrilled to be bringing forward these plans and are asking members of the community to participate in our ongoing consultation to help shape the future details of the campus.”
Joanna Gabrilatsou, director of planning at consultants JLL Planning, said, “The site is an ideal location for the proposed Mabgate campus. Situated in close proximity to the city centre, it will be accessible to students from across the city using nearby transport hubs, providing them with access to the high-quality education experience they deserve.
“The site has received a number of consents for housing schemes over the years, but this proposal would be beneficial to the city’s student population and the local community, whilst regenerating a redundant brownfield site with state-of-the-art buildings.”
