Summer start date for new riverside homes next to World Heritage village
Construction of Saltaire Riverside – a new residential neighbourhood composed of 289 homes, commercial space and a riverside park on the edge of Saltaire, West Yorkshire, is on track to start in early summer.
Urban regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate is currently progressing transformation of the 11-acre site sandwiched between the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, which was formerly home to an HMRC office complex that closed in October 2021.
Demolition of the existing buildings on site – which mainly consist of two large five-storey hexagonal office blocks – is expected to be completed in the coming six weeks, followed by ground preparation works in advance of construction.
Material from the demolition will be recycled and used to raise the levels of the site as part of major flood defence works, which will immediately follow the demolition programme.
James Bulmer, managing director for Leeds-based Artisan Real Estate England, said: “Our local contractor, Metropolitan, has been doing excellent work of taking down the existing buildings, and we will soon be moving to processing materials which will be crushed and recycled for re-use on site as part of the forthcoming construction project.
“We are now hosting regular design team meetings, working on the detailed technical drawing requirements needed to turn our ambitious vision into a reality.
“Our commercial teams will shortly be going out to tender to find suitable trade sub-contractors to partner with for the project.”
Michael Hirst, managing director at Metropolitan, said: “The former HMRC building was a substantial reinforced concrete structure, but our highly skilled teams have been effective, diligent and professional throughout.
“Artisan is an important client to us and we are working with them on multiple developments across England and Scotland. We look forward to a long lasting relationship.”
Artisan’s plans for the new Saltaire Riverside development include the 289 new homes, more than 5,000 sq ft of commercial office space designed for flexible working and a café facing on to a new pocket park and piazza.
A sizeable riverside park will link the development to the River Aire, providing woodland, grasslands and lawns to act as a natural flood water storage area whilst pedestrian links will provide direct access to Saltaire Railway Station and the canal towpath.
Bulmer added: “We are excited about starting our initial homes phase, which will deliver a mix of apartments and townhouses to create a much needed sustainable and low carbon residential community.
“Our completed development will become a modern interpretation of the adjacent Saltaire Village, bringing much needed sustainable family housing in an accessible, well connected and environmentally responsible setting.
“It will spectacularly open up a large riverside area, bringing interest and investment to the area and providing a natural, contemporary extension to the existing Saltaire footprint.”
