Residents fear being ‘engulfed’ by city centre development

Residents living in the heart of Leeds fear they may be “engulfed” if plans to build new apartments on neighbouring land go ahead.
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Developers have submitted plans to build two riverside tower blocks – which would be 16 and 19 storeys high – on the Whitehall Road car park in the city centre.

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A separate bid by another developer to build offices and possibly a hotel further down the car park has also provoked anger, having been put forward around the same time in April.

Residents living near to the site are unhappy.Residents living near to the site are unhappy.
Residents living near to the site are unhappy.
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The plans have prompted a wave of protest from locals, including dozens from those living in the neighbouring Whitehall Waterfront building and the West Point flats on the other side of the car park.

They claim the new flats will dwarf their own living quarters, block out light and compromise their safety at night.

They also fear the impact the wider development will have on local infrastructure.

Objector Suzie Hardy, 45, said: “This whole area has exploded with development and now this is just starting to take the Michael.

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“We’ve reached this point of frustration now where we’ve just had enough.

“It would totally engulf us and leave hundreds of residents cast into darkness.

“We don’t have green spaces. Our balconies are our open space and that’s about to be whipped away from us. It will dwarf our block.

“A lot of people say, ‘what do you expect living in the city centre?’ But this is our home.”

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Wendy Frith has lived in the Waterfront building since 2005.

She said the small gap between her home and the new blocks, “will create a narrow little alley that will feel dark and deserted at night”.

She added: “At the moment, you’re in full view of the road and you feel safe. But this makes me feel claustrophobic whenever I think about it.”

Among other concerns for the residents is the loss of public car parking space and the impact on traffic along Whitehall Road.

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A new multi-storey car park could be built as part of the plans, but it’s feared that will be overwhelmed by the influx of people new offices and apartments will bring.

Rebekah Hadley, 29, said: “This road is the main route to the station and it’s just going to be so much busier.

“We always knew this land was going to be developed and we knew the car park was going to go, but it’s the sheer size and scale of it that’s the problem.”

Selim Irez said he was particularly concerned about the difficulties emergency vehicles could have accessing the area.

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He said that fire engines had struggled to reach the Waterfront block as it is, following a recent callout.

“It doesn’t put your mind at ease, thinking that if there’s an emergency they won’t be able to help,” he said.

In response, a spokesperson for Town Centre Securities, the developer proposing to build the offices and the multi-storey car park, said: “The Whitehall Riverside site which is currently used as a temporary surface car park has long been proposed for redevelopment with various masterplans consented over the years.

“The proposed masterplan is a culmination of several months of design development and pre-application consultation with the local authority, and has carefully considered the relationship to neighbouring properties.

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“This development represents a significant investment in the location and will activate the riverside through the provision of new public realm, improving connectivity and safety/lighting.

The company added: “The proposed masterplan includes a new, landscaped riverside green which will be a significant enhancement for the benefit of all existing residents and the wider community.

“The proposed mix of uses will increase activity for greater periods throughout the week, establishing the site as a new city centre destination.”

Manchester-based developer Glenbrook, who have applied for permission to build the two apartment blocks, had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.

In their planning application, they said the development, “Would meet the demands of the market and contribute to the growth in the commercial sector in this area.”

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