‘Progress’ in bid to transform historic building

LEEDS CITY Council says “positive progress” is being made to ensure one of the city’s most recognisable industrial buildings can be brought back into use in the future.

A report, set to go before members of the council’s decisionmaking Executive Board, says stabilisation works on the Temple Works building in Holbeck are set to start early next year, which could ultimately bring the Grade I listed building back into use.

Talks are ongoing between the council and the British Library to create a new British Library North facility in the building, following an announcement in this month’s spring Budget for a £25m heritage grant from central funding to support such a scheme.

A report by Leeds City Council officers stated developer Commercial Estates Group, which owns the building and is working with the council to bring it back into use, bought an adjoining building south of Temple Works, known as Drapers Yard, as well as 20 Sweet Street. It also claims CEG is also in talks with other landowners, while continuing work to help stabilise the Temple Works building.

The report said: “It is planned for temporary stabilisation works to commence in early 2022, to allow further survey and design work to take place safely and to arrest the decline of the property ahead of a full contract being let for the full stabilisation of the property thereafter.

“There is positive progress being made with regards to securing the long-term sustainable re-use of the Grade I listed Temple Works, with the council, CEG and British Library progressing detailed work over the potential of a new British Library North at Temple, with £25m of devolution funds secured to establish a British Library North in Leeds.”