A £270m development proposal to transform the former International Swimming Pool site at Lisbon Street in Leeds city centre has been granted full planning consent by Leeds City Council.
The 2.8-acre strategic site, which has been used as a car park since the pools’ demolition in 2009, has been the subject of much scrutiny around its development potential due to its gateway location.
DLA Architecture has designed the landmark development on behalf of Lisbon Street Developments, a joint venture partnership between Marrico Asset Management and Helios Real Estate. DLA submitted proposals earlier this year, fulfilling a pre-requisite that the scheme incorporates strong public realm with strong linkages to neighbouring West End sites such as Wellington Place.
Plans for Lisbon Street include two BTR residential towers of 33 and 22 storeys offering 629 apartments, a 24-storey student accommodation building with 548 bed spaces, a 15-storey, 120 key aparthotel with 22,000 sq ft of co-working office space and 131,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, along with further retail and leisure provisions. Construction is ear-marked to commence in spring next year.
The BTR residential towers will incorporate a connected ground floor space to provide residents’ facilities such as a concierge reception, co-working spaces, lounges, entertainment spaces and wellbeing centre as well as extensive cycle storage and first floor external garden terrace.
The plans also include improvements to the existing pedestrian and cycle way to the edge of the site More than 55% of the site is to remain landscaped with public realm installations with a significant landscaped public square being the focus point of the scheme.
Marrico’s partner, Mark Barnes says: “We are delighted to secure full consent for the vital transformation of this important site which has been underutilised to its true potential for too many years. These proposals play a key role in bringing more investment and growth into the west end of the city centre and complete the crucial missing link.”
Leeds established DLA Architecture has a long-standing professional relationship with Marrico having already advised on its other major Leeds schemes including Central Square and the proposed new 300-bed hotel at Sovereign Square.
Mark Redfern, head of design at DLA Architecture says: “We are thrilled to secure this planning consent to enable us to deliver an inspiring new environment deserving of this critical site in Leeds city centre. There was a pre-requisite that we balance commercially viable accommodation with strong public realm.”
The full project delivery team includes DLA Architecture, Re-form Landscape Architecture, Quod, CSD, Curtins, RBA, Turley, Brooks Ecological, Stroma Building Control, Jensen Hughes, Hydrock, Apex Acoustics, Windtech and AA Projects.
