Work is under way on the latest phase of a major regeneration programme to support local businesses and revive the traditional character of one of Leeds city centre’s most historic streets.
The New Briggate High Street Heritage Action Zone programme – a partnership between Leeds City Council and Historic England – has provided grant aid for significant repairs and refurbishments to a row of shops and commercial units opposite Leeds Grand Theatre.
The work – including timber sash windows and the reinstatement of traditional design features to shopfronts – is expected to take about five months to complete.
This phase of the programme follows positive recent progress on other HAZ-funded improvements to New Briggate, including the restoration of stylish terrazzo paving at the entrance to the Grand Arcade.
The HAZ work feeds into a wider transformation of the area that is designed to give shops and other independent local businesses an ideal environment in which to trade and flourish. Key elements of that wider transformation include:
- The council’s pedestrianisation of the lower end of New Briggate to create a traffic-free space complete with trees, benches, ‘street cafe’ seating and a spruced-up entrance to the historic St John’s churchyard;
- The delivery by the council of other enhancements to New Briggate’s highway infrastructure, including wider pavements and new cycling facilities;
- Public realm improvements – including new surfacing and footways – on Merrion Street, which sits a stone’s throw from New Briggate and plays an important part in the city centre’s night-time economy;
- Opera North’s completion of the £18m redevelopment of its buildings on New Briggate and the adjacent Harrison Street.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said:“It’s really exciting to see improvement work starting on these buildings, with the finished results set to make New Briggate an even more attractive place to live, shop and spend time.
“The Heritage Action Zone programme highlights the way that the council, alongside partners, can have a transformational impact on streets that we already know and love.
“By creating well-connected and people-friendly spaces across the city, we’re shaping the kind of environment that will attract further investment and, with it, new jobs, homes and opportunities for all.”
