Floating park plan to breathe life into docks

The plans for Clarence Dock in Leeds also include grassing over the Royal Armouries Museum tilt yard to create a major event space.

Property company Allied London, which took over Clarence Dock earlier this year, is working on a masterplan to breathe new life into the area which Michael Ingall, the firm’s chief executive officer, described as having no spirit or soul.

But he told the council’s city centre plans panel it had great potential and could make Leeds “a stand out city” over the next 15 years.

The firm’s vision for the future includes a cluster of five new restaurants, shops, cafes, bars and ultra-modern “workspace hubs” which it is hoped will attract digital and other new, emerging industries.

While new business uses would be important, Mr Ingall said: “We want to focus on leisure.”

He said a grassed-over tilt yard – while still being available for jousting – could become a festival area for theatre, opera, music and other events.

On creating a floating park, he said: “A piece of green right in the middle of the dock would be packed every lunchtime.

“It’s something different and something other cities don’t have.

“We don’t want to alter a lot and we are not demolishing anything. We are basically adding things and expanding buildings.”

The name Clarence Dock would disappear to be replaced by New Dock, the area’s original name when it was built in 1843.

Mr Ingall hoped the council could offer its support by improving pedestrian routes to the site with better signing and lighting.

The aim is to carry out the work over the next two years and relaunch New Dock in 2014.

Planning applications are likely to be submitted later this year.