Holbeck underground ballroom is located on the Southbank of Leeds where an ambitious development plan to double the size of Leeds city centre creating 35,000 new jobs and over 8,000 new homes is starting this year. This will be one of Europe's largest regeneration projects.
ABOUT SOUTH BANK LEEDS
The regeneration of the South Bank area of Leeds will be the biggest change the city has seen in more than a hundred years. Developers aim to double the size of Leeds city centre by transforming South Bank into a distinctive Global destination for investment, living, learning, creativity and leisure.
South Bank refers to a number of investments and proposed activities aimed at regenerating 253 hectares of land that lies south of the River Aire in Leeds. Equivalent to 350 football pitches in size, the regeneration will help to double the size of Leeds city centre; it will provide over 35,000 jobs and over 8,000 homes, and be one of the largest city centre regeneration initiatives in Europe capturing the growth of Leeds city centre for the coming decades.
WORK AND LEISURE
The area is home to Asda's headquarters, Sky, over 3,000 residents and a creative and digital cluster of over 250 businesses including award-winning independent businesses. There are over 30 listed heritage assets in the area and it is a leading location for the region’s digital economy. South Bank already showcases the diversity and range of sectors which contribute to Leeds economy. The proposals aim to develop a Global location for investment, creativity, leisure and living; attracting jobs, firms and skilled workers who are not already in Leeds from across the world.
HS2 AND LEEDS STATION
South Bank is the proposed location for a new station for HS2 creating an integrated Leeds Station. This facility will have more passengers than Gatwick airport currently, and will have a transformational impact on Leeds' connectivity with the rest of the UK, driving growth and economic prosperity. The development will attract new businesses and leisure opportunities whilst acting as a stepping stone into better connections across the region.
INFRASTRUCTURE
A range of new developments will be established in the South Bank providing a resilient infrastructure which will support a variety of uses. There are plans for a range on investments in infrastructure including a transformation of the road network and the waterfront, flood protection, super-fast broadband, new public spaces and a social infrastructure to support more residential developments for families.
LINKING COMMUNITIES
Regeneration of the South Bank will link neighbouring communities to the city centre through new walking routes and better public transport links. This will allow better connection to employment and leisure opportunities. A priority is to better connect businesses and developers to training providers and address any barriers people may have in accessing jobs.
MAKING THE MOST OF A NATURAL ASSET
By doubling the size of the city centre, the River Aire will be placed in the heart of the city. The opportunity to reintroduce the River Aire into people's daily lives is a key theme within the framework. Integrating the river into the new green network will allow people to pass freely along the water's edge as a connective piece of infrastructure. The waterfront can become home to new activities and a destination for leisure.
HOME TO CULTURE
Leeds is a truly cultural city. Leeds' bid to be European Capital of Culture 2023 and the emerging Cultural Strategy will be transformational and help redefine the city. South Bank is a microcosm of Leeds’ culture scene – a diverse and exciting mix of attractions, communities, events and places to gather – with something new to enjoy every visit.
OPENING UP THE RIVER AIRE
The proposal of an integrated Leeds Station with an active waterfront aims to provide a variety of leisure opportunities. New cafes, bars and restaurants are planned for the new open spaces created through the changes in infrastructure. It aims to combine these opportunities with better connectivity featuring a city park, to enable people to stop and spend their time.
INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
The area is home to a range of award-winning independent bars and restaurants. A programme of events at Leeds Dock provides a range of activities along the waterfront, including the annual waterfront festival.
AIMS
The regeneration of South Bank, Leeds will be transformational and help redefine the city. The vision and outcomes for the regeneration of South Bank, Leeds include:
1) Activate the waterfront, making the River Aire, and areas close to it, world-class leisure, events and recreation spaces at the very heart of the city centre. Transforming these areas into places for people of all ages to enjoy through play, leisure and urban design.
2) Creation of a clear movement system: Inner Ring Road > City Boulevard > Pedestrian Precinct and Public Transport Box. This hierarchy will include the transformation of the City Centre Loop to a slower, more pedestrian and cycle friendly City Boulevard. This boulevard will allow for active frontages, landscaping and traffic calming measures.
3) Improving access beyond the Inner Ring Road, with seven new or improved pedestrian and cycle connections into South Bank and the city centre. These connections will come from the east, west and south, including the neighbourhoods of Holbeck, Beeston, Hunslet, Cross Green and Saxton Gardens.
4) Implementation of a sustainable parking strategy, consisting of short stay and limited long stay car parks in and near the South Bank, supported by strategic Park & Ride, with long stay car parks mainly being placed outside the City Boulevard. This will encourage drivers to seek alternative forms of transport to the city centre, creating safer, healthier and more enjoyable city centre environments.
5) Expansion of the pedestrian area, excluding private vehicles to create safe, comfortable and attractive pedestrian environments. There will be easy pedestrian and cycling access to the waterfront, developments, pubic spaces and HS2.
6) Creation of a green and blue network consisting of streets, paths, urban spaces and parks that connect the South Bank, the city centre, the River Aire, and local neighbourhoods. As part of this, the new City Centre Park will be a major piece of green infrastructure to serve the area and wider city.
7) Adapting heritage and linking it with existing assets, strengthening the identity and character of the South Bank. The area will boast a heritage network linked clearly through the area.
8) Creating and expanding a series of walkable neighbourhoods which complement each other. This will build upon the existing strengths and clusters such as education around Leeds City College, digital at Leeds Dock, and creative at Holbeck.
9) Improving resilience and sustainability, contributing to the Flood Alleviation Strategy for Leeds and the South Bank. Doing this will ensure safe environments for residents, business and wildlife, and increase the likelihood of investment in the area.
10) Celebrating the culture in the South Bank and making it an integral part of the approach to placemaking. South Bank already has a diverse cultural identity that will be recognised, valued and encouraged, whilst new developments actively encourage new cultural opportunities. This approach has the potential to help deliver the European Capital of Culture 2023 ambition.
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