A ‘Tower Crane Index’ undertaken by DPP Planning suggests that construction activity in Leeds city centre is at the highest level since 2007.
The visual survey undertaken across the city at the end of October has revealed there are 30 active tower cranes operating within the city centre. This is believed to be the first time there has been this many tower cranes in use for 15 years, following a similar exercise by members of online forum SkyscraperCity.com.
It is an indication of Leeds’ position as the UK’s fastest growing city, which has a £64.5 billion economy that, according to Leeds City Council, is forecast to grow by 21 percent during the next ten years.
The level of construction taking place in the city also highlights the diverse range of schemes being developed in Leeds that include Build-to-Rent (BTR), Private Rental Sector (PRS), student, residential, hospitality and offices.
DPP, which has an office in Leeds, is involved in several active schemes in the city, including the student accommodation development Arena Point on behalf of Olympian Homes, which at 45 storeys will become the tallest building in Yorkshire upon completion. The existing office building on site is currently being demolished, with construction activity due to start in 2023.
Other prominent schemes that DPP is involved with include Laurence Calvert Academy in Middleton on behalf of Algeco and the Department for Education, which is currently under construction and due to open to pupils in September 2023.
Oliver Corbett, Principal Planner at DPP, said:
The Leeds skyline is being dominated by tower cranes, which is a real positive for the city. Investors are taking note of Leeds’ strong economy, cultural offerings, such as LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture, and student population, which is one of the largest in the UK, and clearly see the city as a great location for sustainable new developments.
Although the city had previously been hit hard by 2007/8 financial crisis, the number of cranes appearing across Leeds has increased steadily to such an extent that there are new projects in every corner of city.
This includes a boom in city centre living, which has seen a raft of new apartment developments aiming to meet demand for homes, including New York Square by Moda Living and The Headline by Grainger, with new schemes such as Tower Works due to come to the market shortly.
The full list of active cranes surveyed by DPP are (with detailed project information) supplied via SkyscraperCity.com:
Residential
- The Junction, Monk Bridge by Galliford Try Construction – Build to Rent (1 crane)
- Tower Works, Globe Road by Richardson and Ask Real Estate – Build to Rent (2 cranes)
- District Lofts, Climate Innovation District by Citu – Private Sale (2 cranes)
- Phoenix, Saxton Lane by Torsion – Private Sale (2 cranes)
- Springwell Gardens by Citylife – Private Sale (1 crane)
- SoYo Blocks B and C by Moda/Hestia (Federated Hermes) – Build to Rent – (2 cranes)
- Latitude Phase Purple B by HUB – Build to Rent (2 cranes)
- 2 Great George Street Redevelopment by Priestley Construction – Private Sale (1 crane)
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation
- 44 Merrion Street by Real Estate Capital Holdings (2 cranes)
- Carlton Hill, Woodhouse Lane by Unipol (2 cranes)
- Lisbon Square, Phase 1 by Marrico Asset Management (1 crane)
- Whitelock Street by Alumno (2 cranes)
- Woodhouse Lane/Cookridge Street Technology Campus by Metropolitan and District Securities Ltd (2 cranes)
- LiveOasis Wade Lane, by YPP (1 crane)
- Leonardo and Thoresby Buildings (1 crane)
- Trapezium, Park Lane by Torsion (1 crane)
Office/Workspaces
- Aire Park, block MU3, Former Tetley Site by Vastint (2 cranes)
- City Square House for dla Piper by McAleer and Rushe (2 cranes)
Hotel
- Hyatt Hotel, Sovereign Square (1 crane)
