Planning chiefs back gateway development

PLANS for a major office, leisure and residential scheme on a key gateway site into Leeds city centre have won the backing of councillors.

Montpellier Estates Ltd wants to build apartments, a hotel, shops, bars, cafes, offices and a multi-storey car park on a 10-acre site bounded by Meadow Road, Sweet Street, Jack Lane and Bowling Green Terrace, south of the city centre.

The site, currently partly occupied by Halfords, is passed by thousands of motorists each day heading to the city centre from the M621.

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It was put forward by Montpellier as a possible location for the Leeds Arena under a tendering process.

But Leeds council opted to build the arena on publicly-owned land in a move over which both parties are still at loggerheads.

The company intends to build 10 blocks around a large area of public open space which a planning report for councillors said would provide a “green heart to the development”. The tallest building will be between 18 and 40 storeys.

The report said the application was similar to a scheme given approval in 2006 but which did not go ahead.

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As part of a legal agreement connected to the outline planning consent, the developer will provide over £1.1m for public transport improvements.

While accepting the plan was at outline stage, councillors were concerned about a lack of detail, particularly over the potential heights of the buildings.

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