We are thrilled our scheme for investment partnership Tonia Cole Waterhouse has gained planning consent.
Starting on-site in 2024, Leeds Urban Village will provide 1012 homes over two phases, including 478 build-to-rent homes, with community, commercial and flexible uses arranged across 5 tower blocks in an extensive public realm.
Wc were appointed to review a previous scheme designto bring a focus on an enhanced placemaking focus and a significant review of its wind mitigation features. The planning approval will mean there are wholesale changes to the building’s elevational and public realm design.
The project will deliver 1012 residential apartments across five towers and will include 478 build-to-rent homes. The ground floor spaces will accommodate retail, food and beverage as well as a considered range of resident amenities such as a shared pantry, ‘work from home’ suites, a cinema, gym and a ‘library of things’ – appliances and useful equipment for people to borrow.
The public realm, designed by Exterior Architecture, includes features such as a climbing wall and spaces for active play, whilst a large central hub offers opportunities for events, markets and gatherings. DLG Architects is supporting the development to target Fitwel rating – the world’s leading healthy building design accreditor – and has considered occupant wellbeing and health from the outset of design.
Architecturally, the proposals reference the red-brick of Leeds’ Headrow in its pair of gateway towers, whilst feature arches nod to the site’s historic neighbouring viaduct and railway heritage. During construction, meanwhile or ‘worthwhile’ uses will be installed on a vacant zone on site, encouraging local community engagement with the development.
George Smith, planning manager at Cole Waterhouse, said: “These design enhancements will ensure that Leeds Urban Village is a desirable new urban neighbourhood and a cultural destination in itself, designed to meet and exceed people’s expectations now and in the future.
“Located in the heart of Leeds city centre with both the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Great Northern Ballet nearby, we have looked at how we best build on the surrounding cultural offer to deliver a vibrant and meaningful placemaking strategy to strengthen further our engagement with the cultural and creative community in Leeds as our vision for the site develops.
Partner at DLG Architects, Victoria Simpson, said “this project demonstrates how collaboration delivers the best results. From the outset, the team have worked closely together to develop proposals that will deliver the Client’s ambitions for an outstanding new place to live, with a unique focus on a sharing economy and strong links to the city’s cultural institutions. The design has been considered with occupant wellbeing at its heart; this is reflected in the proposals’ form, arrangement and references to the site’s historic use.”