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DLG RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR HOLBECK DEVELOPMENT
Leeds practice DLG Architects has received planning approval from Leeds City Council for a £30m mixed use development in the suburb of Holbeck. Acting on behalf of its client Ace Investments Ltd, DLG’s plans include office and leisure accommodation together with a multi-storey car park. Located at the junction of Sweet Street with Marshall Street, the site is on the border of Holbeck Urban Village. Currently the site contains light industrial units of little architectural merit and the approved plans present an exciting opportunity to contribute to the redevelopment of Holbeck and surrounding area. DLG’s approved development proposals include 90,000 ft2 of office accommodation split into two blocks of five storeys and a 600 space multi-storey car park that includes a large health and fitness gym. Working closely with Leeds Planning officer Andrew Windress a strong urban edge has been defined at the extremities of the site to recreate a sense of enclosure. This also creates an opportunity to develop an urban park in the centre of the development which will provide an area of tranquillity protected from traffic noise by the buildings. An urban soundscape will be created through the use of running water and ‘soft’ landscaping which will help to further breakdown traffic noise. All the open spaces in and around the site have been designed by DLG to serve the wider area. To the front along Sweet Street tree lined pocket parks will be created. It is hoped that this in time will heighten the notion of Sweet Street becoming an avenue as future generation comes forward. The parks will provide seating and lighting, and there is the potential for games such as boules to take place as seen elsewhere in Leeds. Andrew Gardner, partner at DLG Architects comments: “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to this stage in difficult times so we are extremely pleased to receive approval for our plans. It will unlock the development potential of this key site and be a area boost for Holbeck Urban Village. “There are a number of planning consents in existence for sites in close proximity to this one and we believe the multi-storey car park is an important element of the areas regeneration. We have been supported by a number of existing businesses in the area who all share the view that providing safe secure parking will encourage more business into the area and help eliminate much of the illegal street parking. Situated directly to the south of Leeds city centre, Holbeck is very well connected, so the site is located within easy access of Leeds national rail station and the M621 motorway.