Firm served with urgent works notice to repair prominent properties
Plans for a programme of building repair work on a Leeds city centre street – currently closed to traffic for safety reasons – have made progress.
Closure of part of Lower Kirkgate has been in force since an historic privately-owned building on the street suffered a partial collapse in April this year.
Leeds City Council subsequently applied to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for permission to issue an urgent works notice (UWN) covering that building and five other historic properties on Lower Kirkgate which are at risk of collapse or further serious deterioration.
The Secretary of State informed the council last week that its application had been successful, with the owner of all six properties, a company called City Fusion, being served with a UWN on Wednesday 18 December.
City Fusion has 28 days from the serving of the notice to begin a programme of structural work that will make the buildings safe.
If the required action has not been taken by the end of that 28-day period, then the council can carry out the work itself before seeking to recover the cost of doing so from the buildings’ owner.
Following completion of both the work and appropriate safety checks, protective hoardings that were put in place in front of the properties following April’s incident will be removed.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “We recognise the situation on Lower Kirkgate has proved frustrating for local businesses and residents and, as a council, we have been determined to find a solution.
“It’s really encouraging news, therefore, that we have been able to serve the urgent works notice following approval from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
“I would once again like to thank people living and working in the area for the patience they have shown over recent months.”
The serving of the UWN comes as the council separately says it is continuing “due diligence and feasibility work” in relation to its possible acquisition of a number of the historic properties owned by City Fusion on Lower Kirkgate.
Should these proposed market-value acquisitions go ahead, the council explains it intends to bring the currently-derelict buildings back into use.
