The developers behind two of Leeds’ biggest retail plans are set to clash over the city’s £400m Thorpe Park development.
At a planning meeting at Leeds city council yesterday, Scarborough Developments was granted outline planning approval for £400m Thorpe Park. However, two elements were deferred until next week.
One of these referred to the frequency of a shuttle service on the new link road provided in the development, and the other related to the scheme’s impact on other local retail centres.
Claire Harron, a representative from planning consultancy Barton Willmore, which acts for Hammerson on its Victoria Gate redevelopment in the city, and John Lewis – a major tenant – objected to the project. She warned it would impact on the REIT’s own retail-led plans in the city centre.
Hammerson submitted planning applications for the first phase of its own 1.2m sq ft city centre masterplan earlier this summer.
Scarborough wants to extend the Thorpe Park business park by 1.5m sq ft, including 400,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space. It will need approval from secretary of state Eric Pickles before going ahead.
The council will meet again on Thursday to discuss the conditions.
CBRE also advises Hammerson.
chris.berkin@estatesgazette.com
