Cinema and ‘boutique brewery’ for £80m Tower Works revival in Leeds

The proposed Tower Works redevelopment

PLANS went in today for one of Leeds’s biggest regeneration projects - the £80m revival of the historic Tower Works in Holbeck.

The proposals by construction firm Carillion will see the old industrial site, long earmarked for rebuilding, brought back to life with a mix of homes, commercial office space and retail units.

The Grade II listed former engine house will be brought back to life with a cinema and “boutique brewery”, facing on to a new public square.

The developers say the will connect Holbeck to the canal, the new entrance to Leeds station and the city centre. More than half the development will be pedestrian and public space, framing views of the famed Italianate Towers which give the site its name.

The towers and Engine House building are owned by Leeds City Council.

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The site will also include 90,000sq ft of commercial office space alongside a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments and four-bedroom town houses.

Gareth Jackson, development director for Carillion said: “This planning application is the culmination of our work with the HCA, Leeds City Council and local stakeholders to ensure that Tower Works is a fitting and successful addition to the Leeds South Bank regeneration area.

“With iconic buildings, canalside living, great transport links and proximity to the City’s prime civic locations, it’s emerging as Leeds’ most exciting place to live and work.”

Tower Works is being designed by architects Jestico + Whiles and landscape architects Oobe and engineers WSP.

Ben Marston, director at Jestico + Whiles said: “Holbeck is one of the most exciting regeneration projects currently under way in the UK. The team has worked hard to respond to Holbeck’s special character while making the site a permeable place people will want to live and work in, as well as visit.”

Today’s planning submission for the site follows a development deal last month between Carillion and the Homes and Communities Agency, which took over responsibility for Tower Works after the winding up of the development agency Yorkshire Forward. Construction work is expected to begin next Spring.

Built in the 1860s, the original Tower Works factory ceased operations in 1981.

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post