Neglected waterfront to get new lease of life
A NEGLECTED stretch of the Leeds waterfront could be set for a new lease of life as part of the city’s South Bank regeneration drive.
Leeds City Council yesterday confirmed it had been in discussions with the owners of Hunslet and Victoria Mills on Hunslet Riverside about finding a fresh use for the derelict complex of historic buildings.
If it gets the go-ahead, the scheme is likely to be predominantly residential, although it could also involve a small retail element. A new bridge across the River Aire, that would improve links with communities such as Cross Green and Richmond Hill, is also being planned.
Coun Richard Lewis, the council’s executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “The benefits of revitalising Hunslet Riverside and the South Bank need to be felt by the local communities. We want it to be part of our city rather than an island unconnected with the communities around it.”
The announcement was welcomed by Leeds Civic Trust director Martin Hamilton, who said: “There is huge potential for the sustainable redevelopment of Hunslet Riverside as part of the wider South Bank framework, and as such these are very important proposals.”
Leeds’s South Bank area covers the equivalent of 250 football pitches and is being promoted as offering some of Europe’s most exciting regeneration opportunities. The council’s vision for the area includes 4,000 homes and the provision of 35,000 jobs in sectors such as financial, creative and digital.