Regeneration milestone as commercial district is launched
Aire Park, a 24-acre acre mixed use development on Leeds’ South Bank has launched the city’s newest commercial district with the opening of buildings 1 and 3 South Brook Street.
The original South Brook Street disappeared with the expansion of the Tetley Brewery but has now been reinstated as part of Aire Park’s new commercial district which will see the creation of almost three quarters of a million sq ft of new office space on Leeds South Bank.
The first two buildings on South Brook Street create space for over 2,000 workers, offering 190,000 sq ft of Grade-A commercial space, including some of the largest floorplates available in Leeds.
It follows the opening of the first areas of public realm within Aire Park, including the Tetley Green, Theatre Gardens and Tetley Triangle.
These will form part of the site’s eight-acre city centre park and will feature a leisure offering of shops, bars and restaurants and public amenities.
Vastint UK’s commitment to heritage has also seen the developer submit plans to refurbish the 92-year-old Tetley building.
The developer’s proposals include the retention of the art deco façade and opening up of new areas to the public for the first time.
Simon Schofield, head of development North at Vastint UK, said: “Aire Park offers the chance for us to create a whole new district within Leeds with the UK’s largest new city centre green park at its heart.
“As we look to the future of this former industrial site and creating new spaces for Leeds’ next generation of business leaders, we wanted to give a nod to those that had come before.
“Once complete, South Brook Street, will feature seven buildings with 700,000 sq ft of Grade-A office space, creating space for over 10,000 workers, alongside 40,000 sq ft of retail space and a multi-storey car park.
“Whilst the South Brook Street of yesteryear has long been forgotten, we’re looking forward to writing a new chapter in its history with the launch of Aire Park’s new commercial space and welcoming the first occupiers to buildings 1 and 3.”
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, added: “The launch of this new commercial neighbourhood is an important milestone for Vastint’s Aire Park project, and complements the wider transformative work being led by the council around the site and across the rest of the South Bank.
“As the former home of the world-famous Tetley Brewery, this part of the city centre has a fascinating and significant past as well as a very bright future.”
Once complete, the Aire Park development will span 24 acres of the city’s South Bank, delivering an eight-acre public park, over one million sq ft of commercial space and 1,400 homes.
