Victoriagate/Eastgate Quarter Development

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sun 30 Mar, 2014 6:35 pm

raveydavey wrote: I do, and parts of it were still like that in the late 80's as I used to have to go to Union Street on a semi-regular basis for work and parked in the area. I'm not sure when it was finally resurfaced into what is effectively one big car park, but I can distinctly remember the palaver of having to drive into several small enclosed areas looking for a space - or of spotting a space and not being able to get to it... I'm glad you remember it too Ravey. There must be some photos of it like that.Meanwhile, the 1947 photo shows...wait for it - a car park This is more like it in 1975. The old Police station would soon be demolished and the car park extended further down. The old cobble streets still there making smaller car parks instead of one big one.

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 25 Apr, 2014 6:43 pm

Message moved here to an existing thread:LeodianUser Location: LeedsJoined on: 10-Jun-2010 12:33:50Posted: 4234 posts# Posted on: 25-Apr-2014 14:29:58. Edit | Quote There is a report titled 'Anger over demolition plan for landmark Leeds site' in the Yorkshire Evening Post (YEP) online where it reports that the Leeds Civic Trust has voiced concerns over the developer's (Hammerson) plans to knock down a number of buildings in the Vicar Lane area, such the Lyons Works and the old bus station, to create a car park. This is the link to the online report:- http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 6579169The same report (but missing 'Leeds' in its title) is on page 4 of the YEP today (April 25 2014).PS. As the area for Victoria Gate has been allowed to become very run down for many years now I suspect that it will not be long also before the buildings on Vicar Lane near to Kirkgate opposite the City Market will catch the eye of a developer as they are looking run down, as also are those on Duncan Street near to Call Lane.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 25 Apr, 2014 7:06 pm

Thanks for moving my post chameleon to this thread. I had tried (honest) to find a thread to put it in but none seemed to be really suitable. For whatever reason I clearly however missed this thread! I think (well it's my excuse!) it may be because I searched under Victoria Gate.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 25 Apr, 2014 8:21 pm

chameleon wrote: Message moved here to an existing thread:LeodianUser Location: LeedsJoined on: 10-Jun-2010 12:33:50Posted: 4234 posts# Posted on: 25-Apr-2014 14:29:58. Edit | Quote There is a report titled 'Anger over demolition plan for landmark Leeds site' in the Yorkshire Evening Post (YEP) online where it reports that the Leeds Civic Trust has voiced concerns over the developer's (Hammerson) plans to knock down a number of buildings in the Vicar Lane area, such the Lyons Works and the old bus station, to create a car park. This is the link to the online report:- http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 6579169The same report (but missing 'Leeds' in its title) is on page 4 of the YEP today (April 25 2014).PS. As the area for Victoria Gate has been allowed to become very run down for many years now I suspect that it will not be long also before the buildings on Vicar Lane near to Kirkgate opposite the City Market will catch the eye of a developer as they are looking run down, as also are those on Duncan Street near to Call Lane. The YEP appear to have missed the point - the whole reason that the area is abandoned and run down is because several thriving businesses were forced out when the project didn't get started nearly a decade ago. The YEP themselves reported it at the time.The project was sold as the redevelopment of the area they are now talking about bulldozing to make a car park, what is euphemistically being referred to as "stage 2". The initial plans I saw during the consultation showed people crossing Eastgate diagonally at the junction with Vicar Lane to access the new shopping centre. Yet now work is underway, the whole thing seems to have been picked up and slid a quarter of a mile south.Visit this page for images which show just how much the scheme has been cut back - amusingly they seem to think that the scheme has already been built... http://archinect.com/acme/project/eastgate-quarterI think that the council are hoping the new scheme will spark a regeneration of the surrounding areas although I'm not so sure. VG will exacerbate the massive number of empty shops already stood idle in the city centre, so it's unclear where new occupants will come from. Unless the council have plans for some more bookies, tanning salons and "amusement" arcades?

sujay · Post by **sujay** » Thu 01 May, 2014 5:28 pm

electricaldave wrote: I notice that the artist impressions do not seem to focus much at all on the view up the Headrow from Eastgate.It appears to me that the lower Eastgate buildings are to be demolished, and since this was designed to stand as a pair of 'bookcases' this is really terrible.Take a look at this,http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... AY=FULLThe drawings I have seen on the net do not make it clear what happens to the buildings on the right, except somehow there will be a piazza in front of the Templar Church which will be much more accessible - the word the designers use is 'permeable'. which appear to be code for knocking down a number of significant buildings.In this picture, try to imagine the location of the proposed piazza,http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... Y=FULLThis appear to me to mean that at the very least, the whole centre of that building will go.It seems to me that the left side buildings will be completely demolished in favour of some large amorphous blobThe plans and artist impressions do not make it totally clear, is this intentional I think that to lose such a familiar Leeds sight looking up the Headrwo from Eastgate might prove a bit controversial and maybe thats why it is not clear.I have just watched the video view of it, and its true the left building is removed and in its place is a large horrible blob - this would be the John Lewis store - I don't know who imagines this is a good idea, I certainly don't, maybe it looks ok on a little model, but these things have a way of looking awful when scaled up, and especially with a few decades added - the YEP buidling is a good example. looks like a nice building from a model view, but the reality was pretty awful.It also means that whole place is going to be just one corporate lump, with no local character at all, I agree that lots of the area is in need of development, but when you consider what lies within the proposed plan, from the Templar houses, through to the workhouse and up to the chancery bar on Vicar lane, it all gets lost and the past is utterly erased.This part of Leeds is quite important, look on the old maps and you start to see certain land holdings the Ley Lands etc - it will all lose its relevance.There will be a huge amount of archeology under all that lot, and probably an number of bell pits, but the worst thing is that this new development will have no reference, its not like you will be able to walk along the lines of the old streets, or even the old grid plan - it all goes.Seems that there is a body of market traders and advocates who are not keen on this, and see it as a threat, however it is sad to say but my view is that Leeds markets have been in decline for some time - perhaps this decline has been deliberate, it would not surprise me.http://kirkgatemarket.wordpress.com/ In all this debate, I think I'm more interested in what the archaeologists will find- does anyone know if that's going to happen, and if so, how long they will be allowed on the site? Time being money, and all that!

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Wed 25 Jun, 2014 9:40 am

Not sure if this has been linked to...http://plandocs.leeds.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Ba ... =1Eighteen months out of date but has some good history and maps etc on. I find it interesting to see on some websites people's misunderstanding that Eastgate is some sort of ancient roadway through Leeds that should be preserved indefinitely. The original designs for the Headrow and Eastgate are in the library and are far more grandiose than what was actually turned out.

Linky Oik · Post by **Linky Oik** » Wed 25 Jun, 2014 12:23 pm

LS1 wrote: Not sure if this has been linked to...http://plandocs.leeds.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Ba ... ageCount=1 Fascinating document - many thanks!

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 26 Jun, 2014 1:41 am

LS1 wrote: Not sure if this has been linked to...http://plandocs.leeds.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Ba ... =1Eighteen months out of date but has some good history and maps etc on. I find it interesting to see on some websites people's misunderstanding that Eastgate is some sort of ancient roadway through Leeds that should be preserved indefinitely. The original designs for the Headrow and Eastgate are in the library and are far more grandiose than what was actually turned out. I find it interesting taht there are some people who would like to see the area remain as a crappy old hole thats only good enough to park cars on.

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Thu 26 Jun, 2014 9:14 am

That too! Some parts of Leeds architecture has merit historically - the old chapel on Lady Lane for example which is why it is ear marked for saving. Eastgate has no historical merit at all apart from perhaps the building that is "Connexions", the old bank. It may look "familiar" so people want to see it stay.Take Briggate for example, I wonder if the Victorians felt as nostalgic when they removed a lot of the post medieval properties there to create what we all know and recognise now. http://www.leodis.org/display.aspx?reso ... =FULLShows that in 1932 only part of Eastgate was completed. http://www.leodis.org/display.aspx?reso ... =FULLShows that Nelson Street really wasn't a nice place and was ultimately removed as part of slum clearance. http://www.leodis.org/display.aspx?reso ... LAY=FULLIs a fantastic pic showing that Eastgate was left unbuilt on for at least 20 years after the north east corner was competed in 1932.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Thu 26 Jun, 2014 9:33 am

The building on the left of the last picture fronts onto Lady Lane. Is that earmarked fro preservation or destruction?