'Looking ahead with optimism': Leeds’ oldest street could get new lease of life as £680k repairs begin
Major £680,000 repairs planned for Leeds street two years after building collapse
Leeds City Council has said it aims to begin long-delayed repairs on a historic street this month.
Lower Kirkgate in Leeds has been closed to traffic since April 2024, when one of the 18th century buildings partially collapsed.
Last month, the council said it was awarding a contract worth £680,000 for urgent maintenance on the street, which is one of the oldest in the city.
A council spokesperson this week said repairs were due to start this month.
Martin Hamilton, director of Leeds Civic Trust, said he was “very keen to see visible work start as soon as possible”.
“The building collapsed around two-and-a-half years ago now,” he said.
“Of course that’s sad but I am looking ahead with optimism.
“Towards the top of the street, there are businesses doing really good things.
“I hope in the future we’ll see new ownership for the buildings and new life put into them, with more vibrant businesses opening.”
The collapsed building is in a row of privately-owned properties.
Last year, Leeds City Council said the owner declined to carry out repair work, “citing a lack of funds”.
The council said once it has carried out the repairs, it will seek to recover the costs.
The owner of the building has been approached for comment.
Last September, the council said a programme of repairs would be carried out by building firm Geo Houlton and Sons at a cost of £414,500.
It emerged last month that the expected cost had increased by more than £260,000 – to £680,000 – after surveys were carried out as part of preparatory work earlier this year.
A council spokesperson said: “The revised price reflects changes to the designs for the scheme that were made following structural surveys and ground condition checks carried out as part of this year’s preparatory activity.
“An independent cost consultant has confirmed that, given the location and nature of the work to be undertaken, the revised price is a reasonable one.”
The spokesperson said the preparatory work carried out earlier this year included replacement hoardings around the site.
They added: “These privately-owned buildings are important heritage assets and, as such, the work that is needed to stabilise them has involved extremely complex planning.
“We recognise that, to the casual observer, progress on site to date may appear limited.
“But we would assure local residents and businesses that, behind the scenes, every effort has been made to resolve the scheme’s various design challenges as quickly and efficiently as possible.”