People across Leeds have been left "heartbroken" by the news that one of the city centre’s most prominent shopping centres could be demolished to make way for student flats.
The Core Shopping Centre, with entrances on the Headrow and Lands Lane, has been branded “underused” by planning officers. But shoppers have said this couldn’t be further from the truth with many depending on the open communal space, which features multiple food stalls and public toilets.
Under the early suggested proposals, three new buildings would be put up in its place, with retail units at the bottom and 809 student flats above. The planning proposals have not yet been approved – but members of the city’s planning panel welcomed the development with several suggesting it would revitalise the space.
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When LeedsLive visited, the shopping centre was busy with shoppers filling the seating areas and making their way around the shopping centre, carrier bags in hand. Wristband salesperson Panashe Chingombe expressed his “sadness” the missing void of the shopping centre would cause.
The 30-year-old been selling his wears in Leeds city centre and across other prominent Northern cities for the past eight years. He called Lands Lane his “office” and the shopping centre his “lunch-place”.
Panashe, 30, from Leicester, said: “I’m not happy with it, to be honest. I don’t know if it’s a nostalgia thing but every time I come to Leeds, I always sit up there and have a meal. I don’t see why they would want to demolish it.”
He recounted fond memories of eating peri-peri chicken and fish and chips in The Core which he described as an “open space…for the community”. He’s also not in favour of student flats which he calls expensive, “I don’t think this has been done for the benefit of the majority,” he adds. “I’m against it. I am very sad to hear this, I actually am.”
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His colleague Habtom Kibron, 17 and from Sheffield, said: “I’m heartbroken. I love The Core. It’s a free open space for me to eat, relax and take my break. I’m going to miss it.”
Anya, 35 from Poland, depends on the public toilet the shopping centre provides and has criticised the “capitalistic” nature of the business. She went as far to say this move is a symptom of the UK becoming “the next USA”.
Anya said: “A space like this is needed for the community and if you have invisible or visible disabilities at all, you need spaces that have a public toilet. This is something that’s missing. I don’t know what’s going to happen with the public toilet which is a big one for high streets as well, nowadays.
“I don’t know how community based this has been run – but is this as capitalistic student flats? I don’t know. But student flats are a really bad idea. Student accommodations are popping up everywhere.
“I think it comes down to the privatisation of the education system and the fact students nowadays have to pay tons of money to go there. I think it’s part of this big change which has happened over the years which is part of turning the UK to the next USA, in a sense. It’s disappointing.”
What are you views on The Core Shopping Centre? Will you miss it? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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