YEP Says: The Gateway to a bright future for Leeds city centre

Needless to say, it’s a huge project - and one that will have a dramatic impact on the city’s retail sector when it finally reaches fruition and doors are opened to shoppers in the autumn.

Retailer John Lewis has already demonstrated a significant commitment to the city - announced as one of the anchor partners of the new charitable ‘Leeds Fund’ launched at the Yorkshire Evening Post offices last week.

It’s commitment to energise and support communities in the vicinity of the development through the Leeds Fund is hugely positive and one to be welcomed.

To many this was percieved as a run-down part of the city and the ambition (and sincere hope!) is that the rise and rise of the development will be a fillip to small traders already inexistence, such as those in Leeds Market who’ve had a tough, tough time of late.

Our city will be all the greater when the large corporate retailers and the small independents work together and support each other - and the city council can play a huge role in facilitating this.

That way we will become a true destination city for great retail once and for all.