The area just south of Leeds city centre could be looking very different in the future as planning chiefs are set to discuss proposals for a new 19-storey hotel and 1,200 flats.
At a meeting of Leeds City Council's planning committee tomorrow, May 19, members will discuss the plans, which the developers have not yet made formal applications for.
The proposed developments, which come from separate applicants, are within streets of each other - with the hotel application near Bridgewater Place on Water Lane and the flats just off Sweet Street.
Developers Southside Leeds want to put up a hotel next to Bridgewater Place in Holbeck, alongside four new office blocks, which would range from nine to 12 storeys high.
The proposed scheme would see the demolition of a disused office building on Water Lane, which was first put up in the 1980s, to make way.
City councillors will offer their first impressions of the idea at a plans panel meeting on Thursday. No decision on the scheme will be made imminently, however, as the developers have yet to submit a formal planning application.
But a report prepared by council officers ahead of the meeting glowingly described the provisional plans as a “Significant opportunity to regenerate a large prominently located vacant brownfield city centre site.”
It added, “The proposal would deliver new employment, visitor accommodation, public landscaped greenspace, new pedestrian and cycle connections and support the continuing regeneration of this area of the city centre.”
The hotel would provide space for more than 200 guests, while basement parking would be provided for office workers driving and cycling into work.
The report also warned that the developers would have to consider wind mitigation measures, given its location.
It follows several serious incidents around Bridgewater Place after it was built in 2007, which saw a “wind tunnel effect” take hold around the building during gusty weather, causing chaos.
The problem was blamed for the death of one man and severe injuries inflicted on many other pedestrians.
The council installed wings, or “baffles”, on the building in 2017 to negate the effect.
The report said that due to the heights of the buildings, “The development will need to ensure that wind conditions are fully addressed."
It added that council policy dictates that, “Proposals for a tall building should consider designs that mitigate the effects of westerly winds on Water Lane and Victoria Road.”
Developer Westrock & Platform are applying to build 1,235 residential units, a clubhouse and two office blocks. The developers also want to refurbish and reopen the empty Commercial Pub and add extra car parking.
A report by the Planning Officer said: "The proposal will deliver a mixed use development which continues to provide for a range of local employment opportunities and would not undermine the viability of the remaining employment site."
It added: "The proposed residential, office and commercial uses would contribute to the ongoing mix and the creation of a vibrant community in the Holbeck South Bank area."
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