Approval for green space centrepiece of city redevelopment
Detailed proposals for Aire Park, a landmark for Leeds, and the largest new city centre green space in the UK, have been officially approved by Leeds City Council’s plans panel.
Developer Vastint UK put forward the plans as part of its major redevelopment for the former Tetley Brewery site.
The park will feature a series of connected open spaces, allowing it to be used year-round, day and evening and for a variety of purposes. Vastint UK will work with the council to create and manage the park and construction is expected to start early in 2021.
The news follows the announcement that £8.6m from the Government’s Getting Building Fund will be committed to deliver additional park space and infrastructure around the development, as part of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s mission to boost economic growth and aid recovery from the pandemic.
Aire Park will incorporate the following features:
The Tetley Triangle
A public event space suitable for concerts, markets and outdoor cinema, which will be approximately half the size of Millennium Square, animated by surrounding shops, cafés, homes and offices.
It will be bounded by the Tetley building and the Grade II listed Salem Chapel. Planning is expected in the coming weeks for 28,000 sq m of office space to complete the Tetley Triangle, as a boost to the economic potential of the South Bank district.
Theatre Gardens
An ornamental and sensory garden for quiet enjoyment, connecting the park to the River Aire with pedestrian pathways.
Central Park
A large, green park space between The Tetley and Crown Point Road including play and/or exercise areas, a water feature or sculpture, grassed areas and significant parkland. A path will connect the park to the residential area.
The Green
A grassed and stepped amphitheatre and seating area for informal performance, a similar size to Merrion Gardens.
The Hunslet Stray
A six-metre wide communal pathway connecting pedestrians and cyclists from north to south from Leeds Bridge.
The park will also include an avenue of cherry trees, a meadow path and a one kilometre exercise route.
Leeds City Council will take a 250-year lease of the completed park from Vastint UK to manage, operate and maintain the space, with financial and governance support from Vastint UK.
An additional 1.5 hectares is expected to be included in the second phase of development.
Last week planning permission was also granted by Leeds City Council for Vastint UK to restore and expand The Crown pub within Aire Park. The property is currently derelict.
The ground floor will house a pub and restaurant within the original Victorian building, while the extension will be home to new retail and office space.
Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Judith Blake, said: “The approval of this development is fantastic news not just for the South Bank but the whole of Leeds, providing a spectacular new Aire Park for people and communities to enjoy as well as helping to deliver major supporting benefits.
“It will boost the regeneration of the area, encourage new jobs, investment and growth, and will also help to tackle climate change and will be a thoroughly modern, child-friendly 21st century park accessible to all.
“Most importantly it also responds to what people clearly told us they wanted to see in the South Bank in terms of major green space, so we’d like to thank Vastint UK and all the other stakeholders and partners involved in making it happen.”
Chairman of the city plans panel, Councillor Jim McKenna, said: “The new park will act as a major visitor attraction, event space and destination where people will want to spend time.
“As a panel we understand the importance of this project for the city and we have been committed to ensuring the development is of the highest possible standards for the people of Leeds to benefit from for generations to come.”
Andrew Cobden, managing director of Vastint UK, said: “Securing planning consent means these underutilised industrial areas will be transformed into a significant green space for the people of Leeds and visitors to enjoy as part of a thriving district for new homes and businesses.
“We also hope the rebirth of The Crown, which is so rich in local history, will become a park-side venue for locals in the years to come.
“This development will make a huge difference in supporting Leeds growth by transforming the South Bank.”
