CTP St James – a JV between St James Securities and developer CTP – is the first company to come forward with plans for part of the 15ha (37 acre) Holbeck urban village site in Leeds
The JV will spend £24m redevelop the 1ha (2.5 acre) Round Foundry, a run down industrial area with many listed buildings dating back to 1796. The buildings will be revamped to provide 16,544 sq m (178,000 sq ft) of space, comprising 87 homes, shops, a dentist and dry cleaners.
St James director Roland Stross said: “We’re hoping it will be a real community in its own right. This is an ideal site for people to live and work. It has the potential to be the best example of an urban village in the country.”
Leeds council’s environmental design officer Peter Vaughan said: “We’re expecting it imminently. We’ve had a number of pre-application meetings with St James to progress ideas for the area. Broadly speaking, we’re very supportive of these ideas.”
The local council has prepared a planning framework for the area, which includes offices, homes, restaurants, bars and shops. However, land in the area is mainly privately owned. Vaughan commented: “We’re in discussions with a number of landowners and developers to bring forward other parts of the urban village scheme. We’re inviting them to also come forward with applications for the site.”
EGi News 11/04/00
