Owners of skyscraper agree deal on safety measures

Leeds Council has announced that Bridgewater Place’s owner has agreed to assume responsibility for a scheme designed to ease the dangerous “wind tunnel” effect that can grip the area around the 32-storey building during stormy conditions.

The council said the owner, a partnership called CPPI Bridgewater Place, had until recently been prepared to take the lead on wind-related safety measures on its own land but not on the adjacent road.

Now, however, the local authority says the partnership has agreed that it will be responsible for the entire scheme.

Prior to the change of stance, the council had appointed design firm Buro Happold to find a way of tackling the wind tunnel effect.

The firm has proposed attaching large canopies and screens to Bridgewater Place itself as well as installing a number of barriers on a gantry above Water Lane which runs alongside the building.

Intensive testing of the plans is said to have delivered “very promising” results.

CPPI Bridgewater Place is said to have agreed to appoint Buro Happold to handle its scheme, allowing the design firm to pick up from the point where it left work for the council. It is hoped a finished set of plans will be submitted to the council by Christmas.

Coun Richard Lewis, executive member for development and the economy, said: “We have always insisted that we will not settle for anything that falls short of a complete design scheme to combat the dangers of high winds to both pedestrians and road users around Bridgewater Place.

“We now look forward to the company presenting its plans to the council before the end of the year.”

Edward Slaney, from Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax, was crushed to death by a lorry that was blown off its wheels close to Bridgewater Place in 2011.

A date for the conclusion of his inquest has been set for December 3.