PLANNING | McLaren tipped for 46-storey green light

Along with the West End build-to-rent tower and offices, Leeds’ city plans panel will consider BAM’s final Latitude office block and give pre-application feedback on Vastint’s second Aire Park phase.

Since McLaren’s proposals for Wellington Square in the Lisbon Street area went through that same pre-application process, its plans have been refined.

Planning permission is now sought for the demolition of all existing buildings and the repositioning of Skinner Street to allow the Glenn Howells Architects-designed project to advance. ID Planning is advising.

This will pave the way for the erection of a mixed-use development comprising a 46-storey building providing 464 apartments; two multi-level office buildings, hard and soft landscaping and public open space linking up with ongoing works which will deliver public realm and connectivity improvements to the east and the west of the site.

The project is a significant one by any standards, but specifically in this location is seen as key to establishing the western end of Wellington Street as a destination, as the area becomes a focus for high-rise development and office space building on the back of Wellington Place’s success.

At present, the southern parcel of McLaren’s site comprises three 1980s and 1990s office blocks of up to five storeys, around a central courtyard with basement parking.

The northern parcel comprises three similar, three-storey, red brick and pitched slate roof office buildings, reflecting domestic-scale properties in the streets around Park Square to the east, although not having that level of architectural merit, as outlined by officers.

The office accommodation would be on the southern parcel, with plot 1a housing a 15-storey 261,000 sq ft building and plot 1b a 16-storey offer of 276,000 sq ft. Although built independently, the buildings would share an architectural identity.

The northern plot would accommodate 46 floors in a hexagonal tower, containing 464 BTR flats. Of these, 249 would be one-bedroom, 168 two-bedroom and 47 three-bedroom. The project includes 16 on-site affordable homes among the list of conditions.

Other development is ongoing in the area: Bruntwood’s West Village, which has been among the deals, while development is under way on the former site of the International Pool north and east of Lisbon Street with emerging buildings set to rise up to 22 and 33 storeys.

Land beyond Cropper Gate to the west of the site, at the end of Wellington Street, was cleared several years ago and is now being redeveloped in a 31-storey project.

Redevelopment of the former Yorkshire Post site on the southern side of Wellington Street is ongoing, with the first building, The Headline, having opened to residents in 2022.

Leeds Civic Trust is an objector, on grounds of over-intensive development.

Also recommended for approval is BAM’s plans for Latitude Yellow, the final plot at the long-term project off Whitehall Road. A previous 10-storey office consent was secured but never built, with BAM now seeking approval for a 12-storey, 150,000 sq dft building designed by Cooper Cromar.

Finally, the city plans panel will be asked to contribute its thoughts on Vastint UK’s proposals for the second phase of Aire Park, which were opened for consultation last week. With the phase one offices now well under way and The Tetley set for a new life, phase two will bring 500 homes and 20,000 sq ft of leisure, along with a multistorey car park.

Leeds City Council’s city plans panel meets on Thursday 11 April. The McLaren application can be viewed at 23/00608/FU on the planning portal. BAM’s plans are at 23/06266/FU and Vastint’s at PREAPP/2300136.