AT a time when all we seem to hear about is the economic downturn in the building sector, readers may be interested to know that the following planning applications were approved at the city centre plans panel last week:
A new swimming pool for the University of Leeds in partnership with the City Council which will be accessible to the public;
A major development off Regent Street of four towers (23-40 storeys) including 636 apartments but also hotels, offices, le
isure and retail use (by the same architects who designed the so-called 'Kissing Towers' and Lumiere);
Recladding and refurbising City House next to the railway station;
A major office, retail and residential scheme in Mabgate.
We also heard about plans to redevelop and restore the Leeds Markets, including replacing the temporary market and also the Trinity Quarter retail development (stretching from Burtons Arcade to the old C&A building).
Readers would be forgiven for thinking that the council only ever approves apartment blocks but in fact developers are coming forward with a variety of schemes.
In some cases the credit crunch may delay schemes a little, but the fact that developers are keen to gain planning approval now so that they are in the starting blocks when the economic environment improves, is a clear sign that they believe the long-term economic prospects for Leeds are strong.
COUN Martin Hamilton, Lib Dem, Headingley, Chairman, City Centre Plans Panel, Leeds City Council
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