Ambition unveiled for new city park

The city council has drawn up plans to create a park off Sovereign Street, behind Leeds City Station, which was to be the site of the axed "kissing towers" high rise development.

Council leaders say they have long had an ambition for more green space in the city centre, particularly since the growth in apartments over the last five years.

Other disused or under-used land will be for offices and other uses such as retail and leisure outlets.

The council has been working with landowners such as Carlsberg Tetley and Asda to decide what to do with land to the south of the station which takes in the brewery – due to close next year – and ranges from Victoria Road to Crown Point Road.

A report will go before the council's executive board next Wednesday, which proposes the creation of a draft planning statement for the Leeds "south bank".

The Leeds South Bank Draft Planning Statement will form the basis of a three-month public consultation exercise to get the views of the public and all other interested parties before the final planning statement is agreed later this year.

Council leader Coun Keith Wakefield said: "We have an aspiration for that part of Leeds which is to promote a city centre park both as a destination in its own right and as a catalyst for the reconnection of the south bank to the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.

"It is expected that this area of the city centre is likely to change significantly in the next few years. This draft planning statement is the starting point to ensure that any change will provide a long-lasting legacy for the south bank of the city and be a spur to the long-term regeneration of that part of the city.

"We are facing massive cuts from the Government – but this should not stop us having aspirations and plans for the future."