Reland - Mixed-Use Development - Leeds, Hunslet Road

Date: 20 Jun 2008

Planning granted for 3ha of mixed use development in the heart of Leeds

Reland, the commercial and mixed-use division of Gladedale Group, has been granted outline planning for a major community-based mixed-use regeneration project on a prominent brownfield site in the centre of Leeds.

The scheme, known as 'The Works', is the redevelopment of the former Yorkshire Chemicals plc site on Hunslet Road. It is located just south of Crown Point Bridge, adjacent to Hunslet Road and Black Bull Street, and sits between the established mixed-use schemes at Brewery Wharf and Clarence Dock.

In total the development will comprise 942,000sq.ft of genuine mixed-use space, with an end value of approximately £230m and will create 1300 jobs.

The proposals for 'The Works' feature:-
-707 homes (including family homes with private outdoor space in addition to a broad range of apartments).
-24,790 sq m (267,000 sq ft) of employment space.
-1,750 sq.m (18,850 sq.ft) of important facilities for the residential and business community such as healthcare, childcare and convenience retail.
-6,876 sq.m (74,000 sq.ft) of leisure and other uses including bars, restaurants and cafes, a hotel and a prominent car showroom.
-Total proposed space of 87,515 sq m (942,000 sq ft)

A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY WITH TRUE LONG-TERM REGENERATION IN MIND
The project has been conceived to create a sustainable community in which people can live and work in a high-quality and secure city centre environment.

BUSINESS SPACE TO RENT OR TO BUY
Reland's vision for employment space is to provide a greater variety of accommodation than is usually proposed, and thereby cater for small and medium sized local businesses as well as national and international companies. Furthermore it is intended that this space will be available to rent or to buy (on a long-leasehold or possibly a commonhold basis, similar to the way in which you would buy an apartment). Offices will achieve at least a 'Very Good' BREEAM rating.

Paul Oxtoby, Development Director at Reland, commented: "We are very pleased by the positive response to our proposals. This site has tremendous potential, to deliver something different, forward-thinking and above all viable and sustainable over the long term."

Mark Jackson, Managing Director at Reland, added: "We set out to create a plan for a well-balanced living and working community that will make a large and positive contribution to the City. So we are very pleased that the Council have recognised our genuine aims and granted 'The Works' a planning consent. I would like to thank Leeds City Council for working with us to bring forward this groundbreaking scheme."

Simon Smithson, director at Carey Jones architects added: "Working alongside forward thinking developers Reland has allowed us to create proposals making The Works scheme the first of its kind for Leeds city centre. The design ethos on the whole follows a more European style of city living with the residential element comprising a mix of apartments and townhouses with their own front door and private courtyards with a focus on sustainability throughout the development."

The agents acting for Reland in Leeds are Knight Frank, Atisreal and Shield Estates.

Charles Calvert, partner with property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, commented: "The proposed development represents a significant opportunity to deliver a forward-thinking, diverse and sustainable scheme to demonstrate Leeds' continuing progress and development.

He added: "The proposed scheme represents a 'true mixed use' urban regeneration scheme which will provide for a far broader section of the community within a much enhanced environment than has been the case with many developments in the city to date".

Reland has also submitted a planning application for sister scheme 'Bankside', also a former Yorkshire Chemicals site. The 4.85 hectare (12 acre) site at Kirkstall Road is adjacent to the river and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Proposals for this scheme are similarly based upon the creation of a sustainable community.

Rendered image of the "The Works" , Leeds

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