BRIDGE END. dead end? A REPORT BY LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

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Laura Henry
8 years ago
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1 BRIDGE END dead end? A REPORT BY LEEDS CIVIC TRUST

2 lost end For most of its history, the route into Leeds from the south was through Bridge End and across Leeds Bridge over the Aire In 1724, Daniel Defoe described the area as a..large Suburb or Part of the Town on the South Side of the River... Bacon s plan of Leeds in 1900 shows a compact built-up area, with the South Market of 1823, and the Leeds Theatre, dating from 1771 still in evidence. No doubt a busy, lively place. One hundred years later, very little remains of this once-thriving part of Leeds. Demolitions, road programmes and the resulting blight have taken their toll. Bridge End has been reduced to an open, traffic dominated, windswept area of roads, car parking and isolated buildings. A valiant attempt at landscaping struggles to compete with the vastness of this illdefined, irregular, and inhospitable place. Bridge End is not somewhere to come to In the early 90s, the Government invited bids for the use of National Lottery money to celebrate the Millennium. The Leeds Millennium Bid of Pride in the City, proposed a series of Squares and Gateways, including Bridge End. Sadly this was seen as too ambitious by the Millennium Commission, and the ideas for Bridge End have not materialised. How can the area be re-established as a positive, useful, and enjoyable place, worthy of its historic role as the Gateway to Leeds?

.. Bacon s plan of Leeds in 1900 shows a compact built-up area, with the South Market of 1823, and the Leeds Theatre, dating from 1771 still in evidence. No doubt a busy, lively place.

3 URBAN DESIGN What are the present characteristics of Bridge End? Following the procedures of the Leeds City Centre Urban Design Strategy, our analysis highlights the problems and potential of the area. audit Proposed Concordia Street Bridge not necessary in view of low traffic volumes Poor relationship to the Waterfront. River s edge in need of improvement Leeds Bridge requires strengthening for supertram, buses and restricted car use View of Parish Church tower Well-defined northern edge, with attractive brick and stone facades, some in need of improvement Important riverside walkway link - crossing needs to be more pedestrian-friendly Bridge House - distinctive landmark - focal point of views from north and south Planning approval given for single use office building which does not take advantage of the potential of the location Valuable development opportunities given over to wasteful car parking Salem Chapel - important building deserving external enhancement Edge in need of improvement The space is too large to impart a sense of place Excessive road space given over to low traffic volumes No definition to the edge - buildings too low to create any impact Something needs to be done to improve the quality of Bridge End. Leeds City Council s proposal to carry out as yet unspecified improvements would be money wasted if this is to be a superficial facelift. Bridge End deserves much more than that. Only major structural change can restore life to this historic location. There is no funding for a Concordia Street Bridge, and improvements to Crown Point Bridge and the Loop allow Leeds Bridge to be restricted to local traffic and public transport. Supertram still may or may not happen. But the reduction in traffic using the area provides an ideal opportunity to create additional space for new development. With a bit of imagination, Bridge End could be transformed KEY PEDESTRIAN ROUTE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ROAD FRONTAGE IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT GOOD QUALITY FRONTAGE FOCAL POINT LANDMARK VIEW DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

audit Proposed Concordia Street Bridge not necessary in view of low traffic volumes Poor relationship to the Waterfront.

4 the vision New pedestrian bridge in place of proposed road bridge; high quality design at half the cost Leeds Bridge reserved for use by pedestrians, Supertram, buses and access traffic only Riverbus stop Cafe/restaurant enclosed by glass to give views of river and setting sun Service access to cafes, shops and the flats above them, paved as part of the square New south facing square, with cafe and pub tables under the trees and occasional flea market stalls Owl of Wisdom statue and water feature symbolising the entrance to the City Centre and celebrating the past of Bridge End, including the second White Cloth Hall, the Civil War events and the Theatre Royal Road reduced and re-aligned to a single carriageway with tidal bus flow lane. Release land occupied by car parking for development and useful open space Access to brewery from Bowman Lane only Affordable shops to maintain existing retail uses, with flats over the top. The building defines the square and provides a visual focus Office, retail and residential development with Bridge House at the apex reflects the road curve and defines new square vision Mirrored glass reflects curved chapel into public domain Quiet courtyard with restored entrance to Salem Chapel and private parking area with access from main road The airspace over both the ASDA car park, and the petrol station provides an ideal location for new gateway residential towers with photovoltaic cell cladding, wind generated power and balcony views over the centre Multi-storey car park on lower levels of new building, combined with underground parking could increase the parking on the site - with easy access to the City Centre on foot or by bus Extensive tree planting providing a boulevard approach to the gateway This is only an indication of how Bridge End could be developed. Further analysis would be necessary before a definitive development brief could be prepared. But what is important is that such a brief should be prepared in cooperation with all landowners so that the end result is not constrained by ownership boundaries which prevent an integrated and sustainable development of the area.

and pub tables under the trees and occasional flea market stalls Owl of Wisdom statue and water feature symbolising the entrance to the City Centre and celebrating the past of Bridge End, including

5 reborn Bridge End is underused and unattractive. The buildings around it do not enclose, embrace and protect. To those passing through, whether on foot, in a car or on a bus, it is a place to get through quickly, not a place to linger and enjoy. It could be the sort of lively place seen the world over, where people are attracted to friendly spaces and busy uses. But first the traffic needs to be controlled, buildings needs to be built to encircle the space and provide the mix of residential, retail, cafe, office and retail uses on which it can thrive. Ample carparking space will encourage city centre shoppers to pass through on their way, sampling the delights of the new Bridge End left bank character en route.

It could be the sort of lively place seen the world over, where people are attracted to friendly spaces and busy uses.

6 The historic approach to the city could become, once more, a significant event, whether you are walking along the tree-lined paths from the offices and industries to the south, or travelling in a bus or car from further afield. First the twin towers, curved to reduce wind turbulence at ground level, clad in photovoltaic cells to capture the sun, and with stepped balconies overlooking the river and city centre to the north. Next the eye focuses on a new building corner, perhaps including a mural providing a welcome to Leeds The tree lined pavements and the curve of the buildings draws you on to what is beyond. As the road swings round, the ornate red brickwork of Bridge House comes into view, before the focal point shifts to the creamy stone of the British Waterways building. The new square opens out on the left and the road wraps round a water feature and sculpture of the Owl of Wisdom, symbolising the City s sagacity in creating a new Bridge End. reborn These illustrations show how colour, vitality and a rich and varied architectural experience could enhance Bridge End. There is no reason why this part of Leeds cannot be just as exciting a place to live, shop, work and relax as any in the world. All this cannot happen on its own. It needs local authority initiative and expertise, but it does not need local authority money. Frequently, schemes of urban improvement and regeneration can only be achieved with the help of public finance. But in this case, it could all be paid for by the creation of development value where none existed before.

First the twin towers, curved to reduce wind turbulence at ground level, clad in photovoltaic cells to capture the sun, and with stepped balconies overlooking the river and city centre to the north.

7 These ideas are just that - ideas. There may be other ideas for the area which could achieve the same effect. But it can t be done without imagination and radical thinking. As a major landowner and planning authority, the City Council has the potential to put the machinery in place which can create a new Bridge End. Our aim in producing this report is to assist the City Council in the preparation of an Urban Design Brief which will; Re-assess traffic routes and pedest rian movement in the area Assemb le d evelop ment sit es in co-op eration with landown ers Encourage mixed-use developments to create a cohesive and sustainable environ ment Resist single user isolated projects Retain, respect and enhan ce th e existing herit age of the area Promote high quality mod ern design b y the use of comp etitions Tailor environmental improvements to the vision where Written, illustrated and produced by the following members of Leeds Civic Trust; Peter Baker, Jim Brettell, James Brown, David Hick, Karen Lee, Marcus Shearn, Clifford Stead, and Charles Wickert. Illustrations by Clifford Stead and Peter Baker Leeds Civic Trust April 2000 Heritage and Design Centre, Wharf Street, Leeds LS2 7EQ. Tel Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered No in England. Registered Charity No. next?

Our aim in producing this report is to assist the City Council in the preparation of an Urban Design Brief which will; Re-assess traffic routes and pedest rian movement in the area Assemb le d evelop

05 AREA/SITE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

05 AREA/SITE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES Site 1 - Glass Yard The leisure centre that is currently located on this site should move to a more central location in the town centre close to the existing public squares.