Are we there yet? Those immortal words from the back seat of the car, five minutes after setting off on a long journey. The retort is often no, not yet, or we will be soon!
I was asked this only quite recently by a well-known business in the city.
“Andrew, are we there yet? When will all the building works be finished?”
I responded in a similar vein, pointing out the necessary long journey ahead before getting to the destination. It is the how long? and when? questions which can often appeases or mitigate the negativity if they provide clarity. People feel more engaged, positive, and part of the transformation that is happening if they know what’s going on around them.
So, in a similar way, I want to answer some of those what, when and where questions. I hope it is useful and paints an exciting picture of the transformation taking place before our very eyes every day in Leeds. Welcome to Leeds.
Station Entrance
This amazing bird’s eye view shows the depth of the work going ahead at Leeds Station as part of construction to transform it into a gateway to the city; something you don’t get to see at ground level when exiting the station. The challenges of building a station on a river and a Victorian archway is an obstacle for this project, but the outcome will be better connections to the train station and City Square for visitors to this city. Completion is expected in March 2025.
Briggate
Briggate is our ‘Oxford Street’ and continues to be transformed at a rapid rate. The speed at which House of Fraser was demolished to make way for a new retail and accommodation development has been amazing. Blackrock and Manner are undertaking the redevelopment which is to include over 350 bedrooms. The former Debenhams store, also on Briggate, has been shrink wrapped for some time as work continues to create Flannel’s flagship store in Leeds.
Dr. Martens, Hays Travel and Office are all new welcome additions to Briggate over the last few months and the purple hoardings of the old Top Shop is a reminder that a new Zara store is next, strengthening the rapidly expanding portfolio of brands on our high street. A new Nike store coming to Trinity next year along with a fully let Victoria Gate and new brands in Victoria Quarter including Daniella Draper, demonstrates the strong demand for retail space in Leeds, with vacant units now not lying empty for too long.
New venues on the menu
An array of new eateries has also opened their doors, adding to the appeal of Leeds city centre. Some are new to the city, making Leeds their home for the very first time while others such as Restaurant Bar & Grill have reopened after a major refurbishment.
So whether you’re a fan of pizza, like to sink your teeth into a good steak or prefer to indulge in the fluffiest of pancakes, Pizza Pilgrims, Flat Iron, Farmhouse, Fluffy Fluffy, and Empire Café to name but a few are now here to cater for all tastes.
Skyline of Cranes
The business and professional sector in the city continues to grow and the skyline of cranes is testimony to the large number of builds currently underway. City Square House, soon to be the new home of DLA Piper, is impressive now it is cladded in glass. The Leonardo Building, previously council offices, will be part of a new developments in the Civic Quarter, providing over 400 new student bedrooms, and 2 Great George Street, the old school which used to have a playground on the roof, is now well on the way to be a new sought after residential development.
And while Leeds develops around us at rapid pace, its business improvement district, LeedsBID works to ensure the city centre appeals to those coming here for business or leisure, collaborating with key partners to animate the city, and put Leeds on the map. As a non-political, not-for-profit organisation, we continue to invest 95% of our income back into Leeds, responding to the growing demands of a city which is regenerating for the future.
