Detailed plans drawn up to breathe new life into landmark building

DETAILED PLANS have been submitted for the future of a famous Leeds building.

The First White Cloth Hall plans, inset, have been drawn up by Leeds property company Rushbond, working with Leeds City Council, Historic England and the Leeds Civic Trust.

The scheme is designed by Manchester-based Buttress and, subject to approval, the aim is for work to start early in 2018.

Mark Finch, director of Rushbond, says: “The revival of the First White Cloth Hall – where commerce in Leeds first began –will be pivotal to the ongoing revival of Kirkgate, the city’s oldest street.

“Our approach has to be to understand and learn from its rich and fascinating history and then set a clear direction and role for this unique building to have a new and exciting future.”

The First White Cloth Hall is a Grade II*-listed building. The building’s transformation will include rebuilding the West Wing and northern elevation, as well as the recreation of an assembly room space.

The story of the First White Cloth Hall started in 1711. It was built in response to the news that a covered market was being planned in Wakefield to tempt trade from Leeds.

The hall was successful, and was soon replaced by a larger facility – the Second White Cloth Hall on Meadow Lane. The First White Cloth Hall has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register since 1999.