Our pride in the Leeds suburb on the up

CROSS GATES is on the up with major infrastructure projects and thousands of new homes planned which are set to transform the East Leeds suburb.
PICS: James HardistyPICS: James Hardisty
PICS: James Hardisty

One leading city estate agent has said Cross Gates is set to explode in popularity and is the next big property hotspot in Leeds.

Work is ongoing to upgrade Manston Lane in Cross Gates from a quiet country lane to a link road.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The link road, who is due to open later this year, will be a gateway to the major new 300,00 sq ft shopping and leisure park at Thorpe Park and the A1 and M1.

And the East Leeds Orbital Ring Road is planned for more than 2.5 square kilometres of undeveloped land around the edge the edge of Swarcliffe, Whinmoor and Cross Gates, which has been identified for the development of around 5,000 new homes.

That new road will link the existing Outer Ring Road at Red Hall to junction 46 of the M1 through Thorpe Park.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Manning Stainton estate agents managing director Mark Manning has tipped Crossgates as the next big property hotspot in Leeds.

Mr Manning, said: “I get asked about up-and-coming areas all the time and right now I’d say Crossgates is a place that’s on the up and I think we’ll see prices there rise substantially over the coming years.”

Mr Manning said major infrastructure projects and the expansion of Thorpe Park will boost Crossgates.

He said: “All of these things point to a suburb that’s about to explode in popularity, making it a great place to buy a home, either to live in or as an investment.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Florist Kirstie Cale, 48, who has run the Arts and Flowers shop on Austhorpe Road, Cross Gates, for 28 years has mixed feelings about the impending changes.

Miss Cale, a grandmother-of-one, is one of only a handful of residents living on Manston Lane, which is set to be changed beyond all recognition when it becomes a busy link road.

Miss Cale said: “I know the development has got to take place, however it comes at a price for my home life.

“Currently there are around three cars an hour go past my house. When the link road opens there will be 3,000 an hour.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It will be noisy and I will have problems getting and out of my driveway.

“On a positive note, business can only get better due to a higher population and more passing trade in Cross Gates.”

Miss Cale said new residents can expect a warm welcome in Cross Gates, adding: “Cross Gates is a great little suburb. It has got a fantastic community, people are passionate about the area.”

Butcher John Green, 56, who has run Wilsons Butchers on Austhorpe Road with brother Andrew, 56, for 33 years, said: “People are friendly, it’s a good community.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “Cross Gates has got everything going for it. It’s got a railway station and there is shopping centre on the doorstep, which most people can walk to.

“There’s some nice pubs and a lot of them have had refurbishments. A few new restaurants have opened and there is a wine bar.”

Jacki and Bob Lawrence, who help run East Leeds History and Archeology Society, have lived in Cross Gates for more than 40 years.

Mrs Lawrence, 70, said: “We have got quite a lot of developments of more expensive housing like the four of five bedroom detached houses going on the Bellway development at The Limes at the top of Manston Lane.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The Limes is on the site of the former Royal Ordnance factory where they used to make tanks.”

Mrs Lawrence said Cross Gates has a lot to offer new residents, adding: “There is a nice park, Manston Park, which is very pretty and well maintained.

“It’s got two children’s playgrounds, exercise equipment, a bowling green, a cricket pitch and football pitches. Everything in Cross Gates is close, with the library, shopping centre and doctors and dentists all within about five minutes walk of each other. It’s a close-knit community and a very friendly place.”

Related topics: