Green shoots

This is not the case, however, at a new development in Leeds which boasts a communal terrace and roof-top garden for people to enjoy – 75m above street level.

Those living in the Candle House tower can access a garden shed and herb gardens while enjoying panoramic views of the city's skyline. Such imaginative use of space is vital if city living is to continue to grow.

If the halting of major projects in Leeds, such as the Lumiere, were seen as a sign of the property market's decline, it is to be hoped that developments, like the Candle House development, can become symbols of the green shoots of Yorkshire's recovery – especially if more thought is given to the needs of those who will be living in such tower blocks.