Developers behind a planned £800 million redevelopment
around Eastgate have promised that the regeneration of the run-down area will
go ahead, despite delays. The Leeds Partnership is looking to build shops,
restaurants, bars, offices, a cinema, gym, medical centre, church drop-in
facility, creche and a hotel as part of the £800m Eastgate and Harewood Quarter
development. Eastgate itself would be pedestrianised under the plans.
As reported last week, city councillors approved a
three-year extension to outline permission for the stalled development, which
originally received approval in 2008. Developers are now working on revised
proposals for the scheme, which will be presented in an early form to
councillors in July.
Project director Andrew Hilston today said developers were
committed to the scheme but could not yet give a start date for the
development. He added:
"I'm hopeful we'll be able to announce something before the end of the
year." Hilston also said that the residential provision for 300-600
units in the original scheme could now be reduced or dropped completely as
there was 'an over-supply of housing' in Leeds.
He said: "I completely understand that this is a very important
project for the future of Leeds. It is something that we've invested a lot of
money in over the years and and we're continuing to invest in it. We're very
keen to see the project up and running.
"We're also very keen that this is seen as an examplar
project which will elevate Leeds onto the next level. It's clear that the
Eastgate area is in need of regeneration.
"If you look at similar projects up and down the
country they've stopped completely because of the economic situation, but we
haven't.
"It's been portrayed that development stopped because
of the downturn, but last year was a busy one for us - we disposed of a major
legal challenge to a compulsary purchase order for land and completed contracts
on other areas of land.
"The planning and redrawing does take time, and we're
trying to do it as quickly as possible."
On completion, the original 1.5 million sq ft scheme was due
to create more than 100 new shops together with a restaurant district. John
Lewis and Marks & Spencer were also attached to the development, which was
expected to create over 4,000 new jobs. The two stores are still committed to
the scheme.
Hilston said he was working closely with Leeds council's
planning department and was taking on board the comments made by councillors
last week about the dominance and height of the proposals and the need for more
public open space.
Story sourced from Guardian Leeds. Click here
to access the story.