Former Leeds police headquarters could become student flats

The plans include refurbishing former police headquarters Brotherton House, which would be linked with the new block.

It includes 56 studio flats and 46 ‘cluster’ flats, providing 350 beds, as well as a lounge, study, games room, gym and cinema.

The housing block would be connected to former police headquarters Brotherton House, and would also feature an educational section, with teaching facilities and a lecture theatre.

The pre-application added there would also be an external roof terrace for use by residents above the ground floor link between the existing building and the new block.

Brotherton house was built in 1956 as headquarters for Leeds chemicals and dyestuffs firm Brotherton and Co – after whom the Brotherton Library at the University of Leeds and the LGI Brotherton Wing are named.

The building became the Leeds City Police Headquarters in 1965 until 1976 when they moved to Millgarth Police Station, keeping Brotherton House for offices before being vacated in recent years.

The report into the scheme concludes: “The proposal offers a significant opportunity to bring a vacant non-designated heritage asset back into use, deliver new purpose-built student housing in a sustainable location, and bring activity back into this area of the city centre.

“The benefits and opportunity presented by this proposal are highlighted in this report.”

The proposals will be discussed at a meeting of Leeds City Council’s city plans panel on Thursday, March 12. As this is a pre-application, no decision will be made on the proposals, as more detailed plans are expected to be submitted to Leeds City Council at some point later this year.