Jestico + Whiles, in collaboration with developer Carillion, has won planning consent from the Leeds City Council for the Tower Works redevelopment, a competition they won in March of last year. The site is located in the Holbeck Urban Village, which is situated near the Leeds-Liverpool canal. The design incorporates the styles of surrounding buildings, particularly the three Italianate towers, which date back to the industrial revolution.
The new masterplan, which also includes landscape designs by Oobe, ensures that the new buildings "are deferential to the listed historic structures." The mixed-use, sustainable area, will include 90,000 square feet of office space, 16,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and 145,000 square feet of residential apartments and town homes. The buildings will have a modern take on the historic atmosphere combining red brick facades with slate and glass. Along with the building programs, will come a series of new courtyards, similar to those in the surrounding areas. New pedestrian routes will reference the site’s history and will connect Globe Road to the canal.
Gareth Jackson, Development Director for Carillion said: “The team worked closely with the council to ensure that the design response not only builds on the heritage and character of the area, but meets the needs of the people who will live and work at Tower Works. Half the development site is given over to pedestrian and public space, so it will play a vital role in the connection of Holbeck Urban Village to the centre of Leeds and future transport hubs.”
The project is expected to be completed in 2020.