�350 million South Bank development moves closer

Working in close consultation with Leeds City Council's Planning Department and other stakeholders, CEG plans to revitalise this derelict 3.52 hectare (8.69 acre) site, delivering a vibrant, well connected and sustainable mixed-use development.

CEG is committed to the city and is managing a ground-breaking �400 million brownfield regeneration scheme at Kirkstall Forge, where a new station and the first flagship 110,000 sq ft office are now open. The building, Number One Kirkstall Forge, has this week secured a national Health and Wellbeing award, highlighting the sustainability credentials of the development.

At South Bank, CEG will support the expansion of the city core, providing vital links which will reconnect those in Holbeck and Beeston to the city centre, as well as providing new homes, offices, leisure and amenity space.

Jon Kenny, development director at CEG, explains: �The site is the principal rail gateway into Leeds and the scheme has been designed to make a powerful positive impact on arrival to the city, showing how Leeds is preparing for HS2 and investing to ensure our city offers development of an international quality.�

CEG commissioned Cambridge Econometrics and Cambridge Economic Associates to prepare an assessment of the growth and economic potential for Leeds. Its report highlighted the enormous potential for new jobs in Leeds, provided that there is the office space, training, new homes and infrastructure in place to support inclusive growth.

It identified that 2020 is a key year for office requirements and the city centre needs new quality space to be on site as swiftly as possible. Progressing this application means CEG will be able to start marketing the commercial office development to be in a position to meet this growing need for high quality workspace.

David Hodgson, head of strategic development north for CEG, said: �This derelict site is an important core in the west of the city, an area which has suffered from neglect over a number of years. This is set to change. At the heart of the South Bank regeneration area, our proposals will deliver the same attention to detail and quality as we are delivering at our award-winning Kirkstall Forge development. This will be a exciting mixed-use strategic development of a critical mass and international standard, revitalising the area and reconnecting local communities to the city.�

CEG�s hybrid planning application was submitted in September 2017 and seeks detailed planning permission for two office developments with ground floor retail and leisure totalling up to 26,100 sq m and outline planning permission for mixed-use development of up to 103,900 sq m of offices, retail, leisure, hotel, health, education and community uses, parking and up to 750 new homes, along with new public spaces and landscaping.

The proposals aim to:

  • Deliver a new location for the south west of the city centre with up to 750 new homes, workplaces, shops, caf�s and restaurants � Provide the wider community with attractive new places to walk, rest and enjoy
  • Create thousands of new job opportunities and provide on-site training, education, upskilling and apprenticeships during construction to benefit local people
  • Design inspiring buildings ranging from five to 40-storeys which will put Leeds on the map as a key European destination, creating an exciting gateway arrival point to the city from the south west
  • Retain the two-storey printworks building fa�ade as a feature within the design
  • Improve connectivity � making it easier and more attractive to walk or cycle from Holbeck to the waterfront, railway station and the city centre
  • Assess opportunities to enhance existing community facilities, including the potential for new education uses
  • Create a safe, attractive environment for employees, residents and visitors to enjoy green spaces and public plazas that are appealing and well-lit
  • Revitalise the approach to movement around the area through innovative travel planning backed up by a ground-breaking traffic microsimulation model of the city centre highway network using the internationally acclaimed Aimsun traffic modelling software.

CEG is working with award-winning architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios), which has designed a new mixed use community which builds on the historic character of the area with landmark buildings and innovative public spaces in a key location close to Leeds City Station and the canal.

FCBStudios secured the coveted International Tall Building of the Year Award in 2010 for Broadcasting Place in Leeds, seeing off competition from some of the world�s most prestigious buildings.

CEG also runs the Forging Futures skills campus at Kirkstall Forge, which provides innovative hands-on construction skills on the site and helping turning Leeds students into future developers, builders, architects and engineers.