Aire Park in Leeds is planned to be a new mixed-use district that will regenerate an historically important city centre site into a thriving neighbourhood and commercial area. Partially located on the site of the former Tetley Brewery, the 24 acre site is only a few minutes’ walk from retail areas, Leeds train station and the waterfront area.
A core part of Leeds City Council’s vision to regenerate the area is a new park acting as a catalyst to make it a sustainable business and residential community. The new City Centre Park is planned to be over 8 acres in size, which exceeds the original plan, as it will allow historic buildings on the site to be restored and celebrated within the park.
Part of the plan for the Aire Park project is to reduce the amount of traffic in the area. More space will be given to pedestrians and cycle routes and the new City Centre Park, which spans the whole site, will only be open to vehicles that need to access businesses. Aire Park aims to establish new connections to improve the quality of access through this part of the city. The park will also have a range of different outdoor spaces which can be used for a variety of events, markets and functions. In addition to planting over 700 new trees, many of them native species, the park will include feature a number of elements to a create rich biodiversity and encourage wildlife corridors.
As well as retail spaces, cafes and restaurants on the ground floor of buildings, the development of new homes on the site is a vital aspect, to offer a positive work-life balance. Homes are being built on the northern edge of the site, with businesses along the western and southern edge.
Vastint, the main contractor, asked Hoard-it to supply hoarding panels for the entire development on this enormous project. The first phase included 170LM of hoarding along Great Wilson Street, behind which all of the new buildings are being constructed. Additional hoarding will be provided to encompass areas under development as the project moves through different stages. At present we have provided 1,307 LM of hoarding panels on site across the project.
There will be 1,400 new homes 800,000 square feet of office space and 54,000 square feet of retail space. Housing will include a mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom homes to make it suitable for families of all sizes. In line with Leeds City Council’s policy, 5% of the homes being built in Aire Park will be affordable housing.
