Green light for £80m regeneration of Leeds' historic Tower Works site

The proposals to redevelop part of the Tower Works site in Holbeck were presented to Leeds City Council’s city plans panel yesterday.

The project by developers Carillion will see ten new buildings constructed, including 160 residential units and more than 11,800 square metres of new office space. The development will also include a number of new town houses.

Buildings created as part of the development will feature space for shops, restaurants, cafes, and licensed premises and the development will see improvements made to the nearby canal towpath to encourage pedestrians to visit.

Carillion were selected by the Homes and Communities Agency as preferred development partner for the Tower Works site, which is a key link between the city centre and the ambitious Holbeck Urban Village (HUV).

Councillor James McKenna, chair of the city plans panel, said: “We are pleased to see plans to regenerate this historic part of Leeds moving forward.

“The redevelopment of the Tower Works site will create a dynamic new hub for businesses, residents, visitors and shoppers which will be a cornerstone in the regeneration of the whole area.

“Above all it is important to us to see this site protected and preserved as well as securing its future and maximising its enormous potential.”

Tower Works was originally a card clothing pin works in the 1860s, which closed in 1978.

The site includes a number of listed buildings, which are being preserved as part of the redevelopment- the Engine House on Globe Road, and the three ornate Italian Towers.

Work on the site is scheduled to begin in June this year.

The site links to the HUV, which is a key element of the South Bank Programme that will see the council work alongside other public bodies, the private and third sectors to spearhead one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration schemes.