Urbanite Living has gained planning approval to turn the former Yorkshire Post site in Leeds into a £400m build-to-rent and student accommodation scheme.
The Leeds-based developer, part of Asset Capital, plans to build three mixed residential towers with new amenity and public realm on the prominent gateway site, which has been vacant since the Yorkshire Post group relocated in 2014.
The towers, which will range in height from 25 to 42 storeys, have been designed by DLA Architecture with Quod acting as planning consultant. The tallest two will contain 1,782 student beds in a total of 576 cluster apartments, along with leisure and well-being facilities.
The third building will provide 348 private rental flats with landscaped roof gardens, taking advantage of riverside views.
Urbanite co-founder Daniel Newett said: “We are delighted to secure planning consent in principal to develop this strategically important, landmark site and deliver much-needed new mixed-tenure housing in the city centre. This scheme delivers uncompromising living spaces with fantastic public realm that is both sustainable and adaptable for the future whilst also supporting health and wellbeing of its occupants.”
Urbanite hopes to start work on site as soon as possible.
The regeneration will also feature a “micro-forest”, public square and a riverside walk.
The iconic Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post mastheads and clock will be preserved within the site.
Sue Sparling, director at DLA Architecture, added: “Our design narrative really embodies the former uses of the site, woollen mill to paper mill, and embraces the local characteristics of the surrounding conservation area through form, materials and tone to create a new landmark scheme for Leeds.”
Urbanite’s parent, Asset Capital, has a gross development value of more than £6bn, with a development pipeline of over 3,500 student bedrooms across Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham, Leicester, Leeds and York. It is in talks to buy further sites in key university cities across the UK.
Last year, Urbanite announced a £1bn partnership with Prescient Capital to deliver more than 6,500 student beds over the next three to five years.
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