Planning approved for two commercial buildings on Tetley Brewery Aire Park development

Blueprints for one of the city’s biggest ever building projects, which also includes 850 flats, a five-storey office building and two hotels on part of the old Tetley’s brewery site, have been in the works for more than two years.

Developers Vastint UK presented final plans to Leeds City Council decision-makers for the part of the development that would create a two-hectare park on the site in September.

Leeds City Council officers called it the first major 21st-century park, adding it would be a “catalyst for regeneration” in the surrounding area.

In November, planning permission was granted by the council for 28,000m2 of commercial space at Aire Park, in Leeds' South Bank.

Developers Vastint UK will develop the two new buildings.

The buildings will comprise both offices and flexible-use retail and hospitality spaces.

The new offices will be built speculatively by Vastint UK, with ground floor flexible space available for shops, gyms, restaurants and cafes.

They will be designed by Ryder Architecture.

As part of the plans, an area around half the size of Millennium Square to the northwest of the site would be known as the Tetley Triangle – a hard-surfaced events space for “concerts, markets, outdoor cinema and outdoor cafe”.

“The green”, a grassed area to the west of the site with an amphitheatre; the sensory “theatre gardens”; and “central park”, made up of grassed areas, trees, play areas and a water feature, would make up the rest of the site.

It will be the largest city centre green space in the UK.

Andrew Cobden, MD of Vastint UK, said: “By planning and building for the long term, we seek to enliven Aire Park with a first phase of commercial buildings which will drive activity and create daily interest.

"At the same time, we will open a large park that we hope to be an interesting flexible space allowing for outdoor events, surrounded by shops, cafes, offices and homes.

"These first buildings are the start of our work in Leeds to create a thriving community within a new unique, urban district.”

Ronnie Graham, Partner at Ryder Architecture, said: “We are delighted to receive planning consent for the first phase of development at Aire Park.

"The mixed-use development sits alongside and complements the historic Tetley building along with redefining the Hunslet Lane.

"It also forms the backdrop to an exciting, flexible outdoor space which promises to be the centrepiece of this new urban district in the heart of Leeds city centre.”

Carlsberg UK sold the site for an undisclosed sum to Vastint in October 2015.

The landmark site was home to the famous Tetley Brewery for 189 years until the taps ran dry in 2011.

At the time, it was rumoured that around 11 developers were interested in buying the land.

The construction of the park and commercial buildings is due to begin in spring 2021 and complete in 2023.

Leeds City Council will take out a 250-year lease on the completed park from Vastint UK to manage, operate and maintain the park.

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