Leeds City Region - Thread

[Aviador]

A new impressive addition to the Leeds shopping scene. The Victoria Gate shopping centre is owned by Hammerson who also own the locally famous Leeds Victoria Quarter.

 

[Aviador]

A new "super casino" has just opened at the new Victoria Gate Centre.


https://www.victoriagatecasino.co.uk/

 

[Brum X]

The whole Victoria Gate site looks really classy

 

[Brum X]

Best shopping centre' IN THE WORLD: Leeds's Victoria Gate wins international award Victoria Gate shopping centre, Leeds. Thursday 16 March 2017 Yorkshire Evening Post

Leeds's Victoria Gate shopping centre has been named as the best in the world at a prestigious international awards ceremony in France. The £165m development, in the city centre, opened in 2016 and features a flagship John Lewis store, casino and diamond-shaped cladding on the outside frame.

Tonight (Thursday) it was named as Best Shopping Centre at the MIPIM Awards 2017 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. MIPIM is a four-day international property event, held in March every year, which includes exhibitions, conferences and awards. Organisers said on Twitter: "Jolly good show! Best Shopping Centre: Victoria Gate (UK).

" The shopping centre was developed by Hammerson Plc, alongside architect firm Acme London. Victoria Gate shopping centre, Leeds. After receiving the award, Hammerson said on Twitter: "Delighted that @VictoriaLeeds_ has won the prestigious MIPIM Award for Best Shopping Centre! Well done to the team and @acme_london" Crowds of shoppers and families packed into Leeds city centre near George Street for the official opening of the shopping centre in October last year.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/best-shopping-centre-in-the-world-leeds-s-victoria-gate-wins-international-award-1-8443274[/URL]

 

[Dobbo]

View attachment 4975

A render of the planned HS2 station for central Leeds. Will require the relocation of a Hilton hotel, an office block formerly occupied by KPMG, and the head offices of ASDA and Direct Line.

It **should** act as a springboard for the redevelopment of the south bank of the city. For those that don't know Leeds, the railway runs through East to west and sort of cuts the city in two. The North side is very built up and the South has large tracts of vacant or sparsely used land. The rebuilt station is supposed to open up the arches to movement and facilitate redevelopment.

Hopefully also get 30 minute trains to MAN every 10 minutes...

 

[Aviador]

I've never been a fan of HS2 and I have a lot of scepticism as to whether it can deliver a higher level of prosperity to the North of England. It is my personal belief that HS2 will encourage the brain drain from the North to London more than anything else.

Looking at this development render purely on its merits, again I'm not struck on the planning or design of the new station. I get the idea of bringing the line into the main railway station to improve connectivity with outlying areas which is essential but the city station is pretty much maxed out. I think what is actually required is far more drastic which would of course be considerably more expensive but expanding the current station over a river will end up far more costly in the long run.

 

[Dobbo]

Hi @Aviador apologies for the slow response.

I disagree on the effect of HS2. I think it will rewrite the economic geography of the UK. It means that people can acess the high end of the London labour market from Leeds and means that firms can relocate increasingly valued aspects of their business outside of the capital with greater certainty. It won't reverse the north south divide, but it will make a hughe difference.

I agree with what may be in your mind - HS3 is of vital importance to the north. It must be delivered and corners must not be cut.

On the Leeds Hs2 design, this is not final. It shows where the platforms will go. I anticipate a significant East-West rebuild as part of HS3. More platforms, more entrances (sovereign square for a start!) and a huge concourse above and below the platforms. If executed properly, it can be a focal point for the city for the next 100 years.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Well that plan looks load of boll*cks. I mean where they going to re-locate the Asda HQ and the Hilton? Anyone got those plans. And what about that complicated road network around that area? The road network that connects to the M62 and M1.

In my opinion the HS2 is the biggest waste of money ever. It brings next to nothing to the UK in my opinion and won't benefit anyone; ten minutes shorter then travelling on the east coast mainline. Give me that any day of the week over HS2.

I personally feel the money that they are flushing down a drain should be spent equally divided on improving the east coast and west coast mainlines. That would bring the biggest benefit to all the UK from south to north. The HS2 only brings the benefit to the west coast where it initially tracks north.

I'm up for HS3 though - the North needs it's own power line from Newcastle/Hull through to Liverpool.

 

[Aviador]

Totally with you on that Sherburnflyer92 and it seems pointless spending so much money to save just a few minutes journey time between Leeds and London. It will still take too long to reach outline areas unless your lucky enough to live near a local station.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Just give us electric trains in the South West - five million people in the government's South West region still having to put up with polluting diesel trains. HS2 will do nothing for the South West or for the two million-plus people in South Wales.

 

[Aviador]

Just give us electric trains in the South West - five million people in the government's South West region still having to put up with polluting diesel trains. HS2 will do nothing for the South West or for the two million-plus people in South Wales.

That's the thing, there are so many projects across the whole country that could benefit from the money and it would transform local transport infrastructure.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

But the labour and conservative governments are blind to see that.

Vote for me - i'd scrap it all.

 

[Dobbo]

I'm pretty sure the actu saving is something like 1 hour off a 2.20 journey time. Hardly a few minutes.

Onviously the line is justified on a number of factors in addition to speed.

Re ASDA etc - it's a case of getting compensation and relocating - most likely across the road to anchor the new South bank scheme. It'll orobably act as a catalyst for the Hilton to build a new hotel.

Not saying it's the best use of money, but my view is that it is certainly not a bad one.

 

[ethanegcc]

I must say that, whilst I agree with the High Speed Railway programme in some respects, there are vital flaws with others. Whilst it may bring economic benefits to the North of England, it will also provide more convenient access to the ever-more enticing London market, which makes it possible that the drain of business and prosperity from the North of England will become even more prevalent. Leeds & Manchester do already have high-speed links to London, and the rolling stock on the ECML is being replaced already. The WCML should also be upgraded so that the Class 390 Pendolino trains can reach 140mph, as designed, instead of being limited to 125mph.

The main areas that are desperately in need of rail redevelopment are the TPExpress line, between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds etc. and the South West lines (although I believe electrification is in progress on both of these, with new rolling stock). Linking the cities of the north with a high-speed and convenient service will provide more economic benefits than HS2, in my opinion.

 

[Dobbo]

The problem with upgrading existing railway is that it is very invasive (ie it causes mass disruption) offers poor value for money (the WCML Project from the late 90's to early noughties was roughly double the budget and delivered half the benefits) and can only achieve so much (ie not enough capacity).

There is an overwhelming case for a new line, the question is the speed and standard of the line. HS2 represents a solution towards the top end of that spectrum that can be delivered in phases. It's not perfect, but offers significant benefits. I don't buy the sucking of business investment into London argument. Why would a business relocate from a cheaper part of the country to a more expensive one? It's much more likely to be the other way around.

 

[Dobbo]

View attachment 5086 View attachment 5087 View attachment 5088

Plans are emerging for the main part of the South Bank regeneration. I don't expect movement over night on this, and this represents the first phase of the area immediately to the east of the proposed HS2 station.

When the Existing buildings are demolished to make way for the HS2 station, it will see the displacement of the ASDA and Direct Line HQs. This scheme is well placed to offer movement to these businesses at minimal disruption. There will also be a demolished Hilton Hotel and the Carlsberg HQ is due to be demolished for this scheme.

This probay gives a timeline of 5 or so years from now (my best guess) but to me it looks pretty good.

 

[Aviador]

To be honest I'm not fond of the South Bank proposals or any other large development such as this.

I'm not saying I don't like any aspect of the plans but I don't like the way that such a large area of the city centre is going to be intensively redeveloped under one model.

Personally I would prefer it if the site was sold off to multiple developers with each development considered on it's own individual merits.

As things stand the plans look far too clinical.

On the positive side, I like the idea of a public park or maybe something unique to the UK. Imagine if the proposal was for something more like this....?

#southbankleeds #sustainability #leeds

 

[Dobbo]

I take your point, but I don't see how such a large area can be developed piecemeal. My view is that a single developer can create its own distinct district in this area.

I'd love more green space - it'll be tough to create and then keep it in what is a very central part of town. I hope the final finish is as "leafy" as render land suggests it will be...

 

[TheLocalYokel]

There's a creative brain at work, Aviador. I'm all for innovation but I wonder if the majority of the good citizens of Leeds would be receptive to that sort of thing. In my neck of the woods many people seem to be excessively provincial when it comes to avant-garde proposals.

 

[Brum X]

Integrated City, Leeds

Tallest part of this development will be around 140 metres and work has already started on Phase 1 which will be a Hilton by Hampton Hotel.

Great looking proposal from Leeds