Things are looking up in Leeds as we get back into the heart of our city centre - YEP Comment

Skyscraping offices aplenty and new developments to be homes - the buzz in the city centre’s upper atmosphere is growing.

We’ve watched the chatter return to the ground over the past few weeks as drinkers, diners and shoppers get back to doing what they do best in Leeds

Museums have reopened their cultural doors, the curtains have been stripped back at theatres and live performances are a-go again.

It finally feels as though things are looking up in Leeds - metaphorically, and physically.

And as we emerge out of lockdown, it’s back bigger, better and taller than ever before.

Building is underway on the all-new South Bank development which will double the size of the city centre, transforming a previously run-down area of mill buildings and industrial sites.

Connecting communities in Holbeck and Beeston Hill with Leeds city centre, our city is about to become even more united.

Built-to-rent apartments, duplexes, student flats, and new bar spaces, the key to the future of our city centre is living.

But working must not be forgotten either as Leeds soon becomes home to a major new office development on City Square.

We have a role to play in ensuring these new office spaces are being utilised as we balance our strive to use the pandemic’s acceleration of home working as a catalyst for better work to life ratios.

Pre-pandemic, our city centre always had that mid-week buzz.

Office workers filled cafes and restaurants at lunch time, they relaxed in the Park Square gardens on their breaks and headed to bars afterwards for that much-needed release.

So now as living and learning merge, we are crucially seeing that important feature of creating welcoming spaces for both within our city centre.

Construction workers have arrived on site at the Grade II-listed Monk Bridge Viaduct - starting work on a redevelopment that will transform the cityscape.

It is being transformed into a greenway and pedestrian path, with the archways beneath a home to bars, restaurants and shops.

Our city centre is being rebuilt for us, and we can squeeze everything we can out of Leeds.

Diggers have moved into one of the city's most well known streets as part of plans to redesign the Vicar Lane, Call Lane and Corn Exchange corner of the city.

The heart of our city is becoming more focused on pedestrianised and public spaces, and vehicles are no longer the main priority.

So now let’s grab the living-friendly city centre that’s coming our way.

Let’s eat, drink, live, work and shop there as we make the most of that Leodensian buzz.