Leeds Sustainable Development Group

The Leeds Sustainable Development Group (LSDG) invited individual landowners and relevant representatives of Leeds City Council, with an interest in the area of Leeds, South of the River Aire, defined as Leeds City Centre South, to contribute to an informal discussion about the opportunities in the area. The meeting, hosted by Carlsberg UK, took place at Tetley’s House located at the centre of the land designated as a ‘City Centre Park’ as part of Leeds City Council’s South Bank Planning Statement issued in July, 2010.  Please click on the image below to view a PDF of the presentation.

LSDG – Landowners, Developers and Investors meeting 11.07.11

The LSDG are seeking to identify any barriers to establishing a consensus for the future of Leeds City Centre South, leading to a shared vision which would, in turn, allow the creation of a framework for its sustainable development.

The group has issued a four page leaflet “Leeds City Centre South: an opportunity not to be missed” (see previous post link below) showing the 80 hectares (210 acres) of land representing a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity to create a ‘new urban neighbourhood’ in the heart of Leeds City Centre developed as an exemplar for the city and nation. It is clear that none of this is possible without all the stakeholders coming together to establish a shared confidence, allowing innovative ideas, from wherever they may come, to be tested and implemented. An invitation to a subsequent open meeting will be issued to all those interested in Leeds City centre to take part in an open and wide-ranging debate about how we want to live in the city in the future.

With the current proposed changes in planning policies at a time of reduced development activity, we are determined not to allow this huge opportunity to be lost through any lack of vision and action. The Leeds Sustainable Development Group has identified the need for some fresh thinking in relation to the future development of this area. We have been promoting an open dialogue to gather ideas and to obtain feedback from everyone and anyone with an interest or a stake in the future of this part of Leeds.

The Leeds Sustainable Development Group have also created a charter that encompasses the key objectives for the sustainable development of Leeds.  To view this charter please click on the link below.

LSDG DOCUMENTS – The LSDG Charter

Please let us have you views on the above by commenting on the blog or by e-mail to contact@leeds-sdg.com

David Lumb, Architect and Coordinator of the Leeds Sustainable Development Group

The LSDG wrote to Neil McLean, Chair of the Leeds LEP on 10 May and 14 June 2011, requesting a response to our four key observations and our proposal that the Leeds City Centre South be given consideration as Leeds City Region’s Enterprise Zone, or at least, be a part of the apparent ‘frontrunner’, the Aire Valley.  However the announcement was made in a Leeds City Region Press Release, dated 16.06 2011, that the Aire Valley is now the preferred option:

http://www.leedscityregion.gov.uk/uploadedFiles/News/Articles/LCR%20LEP%20Recommendation%20of%20EZ%20160611.pdf

In this context LSDG is hosting a meeting to discuss the future development of the City Centre South area as defined in the paper below.  All landowners with an interest in the area are invited to attend (e-mail contact@leeds-sdg.com for further information). The LSDG remains determined not to allow the huge opportunity provided for the future development of Leeds City Centre not to be lost through any lack of vision and action.

Please click on the image below to view a pdf of the new LSDG report created for the meeting.  The report sets out the huge opportunities for the City Centre South in relation to the current planning policies and initiatives.

The Location of the Leeds City Region enterprise zone may be decided today at a meeting of the Local Enterprise Partnership board.  The LSDG, in the absence of any aparent local consultation wrote to the chair of the LEP, Neil McLean and the letter is posted below.  The LSDG are not aware of any of the contenders being considered for the enterprise zone, however the Aire Valley is ‘rumoured’ to be the favourite.

LSDG RESPONSE LETTER : Leeds’ Enterprise Zone

“Regional Revival : Why Leeds is riding high”

Please find below a link to a recent article published by Oliver Bennett in The Independent.  The article discusses the future trends within the property market in Leeds City Centre.  The article inlcudes comments from Rachael Unsworth (LSDG contributor).

Article : “Why Leeds is riding high”

AIRE VALLEY LEEDS AREA ACTION PLAN :
Informal consultation on the emerging proposals for the draft plan

LSDG have reviewed the leaflet, published in February, by LCC’s, Forward Planning and Implementation team.  The leaflet’s main purpose was to let us know that the boundary of the plan area has changed and that some sites are now planned for other uses. There will be an opportunity to comment on a further consultation draft due to be published next year but the LSDG felt it was very important that the proposed  change in boundary to include only part of the city centre, as defined in the UDP, should be commented on. This is because it now excludes parts of the city centre, south of the river and it is our view that the whole of the City Centre South area should be looked at, in terms of a development framework in its own right.  See our report entitled ‘Leeds City Centre South: the long view’ published in June 2010.  Please visit the LSDG Documents or links page for a link to download this document.

Please click on the link below to download the LSDG’s response letter to the Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan.

Aire Valley Leeds Consultation : LSDG Response

The images above and below show the City Centre South area as defined by LSDG and how this relates to the Aire Valley Planning area as well as various other planning areas including the LCC’s South Bank.  Please click on the image below to download the map.

THE FUTURE OF CITY LIVING

A paper discussing the possible future for city living has been drafted by Rachael Unsworth, a contributor to the LSDG and a lecturer in the School of Geography, University of Leeds. The paper seeks to encapsulate the LSDG’s thesis on how Leeds City Centre South could be developed for the long term. The ideas were presented at the final lecture of the 4×4 Making Places 2011 Architecture and regeneration lecture series at Leeds Met University at the end of March 2011.

Below is a link to the paper. The group welcomes comments.

The Future of City Living – Draft Paper