New footage shows how £30M Headrow overhaul for Leeds city centre will look

An artist's impression looking onto the Headrow from the Horse and Trumpet.

A new animation shows a 3D ‘fly-through’ of the improvements along Leeds City Centre’s main thoroughfare, and how it is set to look in Spring 2021 when -extensive work is set to finish.

The scheme, known as the Connecting Leeds programme, takes in the Headrow, as well as other areas such as Cookridge Street, Calverley Street and Dortmund Square.

The authority claims the improvements – which include bus priority measures, safer cycleways and wider pavements – will transform the city centre’s roads into “world-class gateways”.

The works, which started almost a year ago, have already seen more than 11,000 new paving slabs and and nine huge tree pits dug out in preparation for the first semi-mature trees to be planted.

The council also claims district heating pipes have been installed between Eastgate and Oxford Place which will transfer energy from waste processed at a recycling facility. It is hoped they will provide low carbon heat and water for some businesses and major city centre public buildings including the museum, Town Hall and Civic Hall.

It is hoped that reducing the number of cars in the city centre will help buses to be more reliable, and encourage more people on to public transport as it becomes a more efficient way of getting in and out of the city.

Leeds City Council executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development Coun Lisa Mulherin (Lab) said: “I am thrilled to see this exciting scheme making progress and would firstly like to offer my thanks to people for their patience over the past year while we have carried out this crucial work.

“Without the co-operation from residents, workers, bus drivers, cyclists and pedestrians the success of this scheme would not have been possible.

“As well as creating a more attractive public realm, offering priority to buses, widening pavements for pedestrians and creating safer cycle ways, the Leeds district heating works will also enable the connection of homes and businesses to low carbon heating. These will all make a positive contribution to help tackle the climate emergency.”