Aire Park: First buildings opened in new commercial neighbourhood as historic Leeds street name reintroduced
Aire Park, the 24-acre acre mixed use development on Leeds’ South Bank has launched the city’s newest commercial district with the opening of buildings 1 and 3 South Brook Street, reintroducing a historic street name to the city.
The original South Brook Street disappeared with the expansion of the Tetley Brewery but has now been reinstated as part of Aire Park’s new commercial district which will see the creation of almost 750,000 sq ft of new office space on Leeds South Bank.
The first two buildings on South Brook Street create space for over 2,000 workers, offering 190,000 sq ft of commercial space, including some of the largest floorplates available in Leeds. The buildings are targeting a BREAAM ‘Excellent’ certification, as well as having been pre-certified for a WELL Gold accreditation.
Commenting on the completion of buildings 1 and 3 South Brook Street, Simon Schofield, head of development North at Vastint UK, said: “Aire Park offers the chance for Vastint UK to create a whole new district within Leeds with the UK’s largest new city centre green park at its heart. As we look to the future of this former industrial site and creating new spaces for Leeds’ next generation of business leaders, we wanted to give a nod to those that had come before.
“Whilst the South Brook Street of yesteryear has long been forgotten, we’re looking forward to writing a new chapter in its history with the launch of Aire Park’s new commercial space and welcoming the first occupiers to buildings 1 and 3.”
These buildings follow the opening of the first areas of public realm within Aire Park, including the Tetley Green, Theatre Gardens and Tetley Triangle. These will form part of the site’s eight-acre city centre park and will feature a leisure offering of shops, bars and restaurants and public amenities.
Vastint UK has also submitted plans to refurbish the iconic Tetley building within the site. The developer’s proposals, which will not only guarantee the future of the 92-year-old building but also increase the building’s accessibility so that it can be used by all, include the retention of the art deco façade and opening up of new areas to the public for the first time.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The launch of this new commercial neighbourhood is an important milestone for Vastint’s Aire Park project.”