Bridge in place for Latimer in Leeds

A 56-metre long pedestrian bridge has been installed at the firm’s Kirkstall Road development, which will comprise more than 1,600 homes.

The installation was brought about by a co-ordinated three-day operation in conjunction with West Yorkshire Highways, which saw the bridge delivered in three parts from a factory in Doncaster.

Beaver Bridges designed, manufactured and installed the structure.

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After the parts were spliced together, a three-hour lifting operation using a 1,000-ton mobile crane put the 71.5 ton bridge safely into position.

The bridge’s arrival is a milestone for the redevelopment of the former dye works into a riverside neighbourhood next to the Aire, Latimer said.

The structure replaces a bailey bridge, and will form a north/south connection, linking the adjacent communities and opening up access to the canal, river and surrounding areas.

Once complete, the project, on the site of the former Yorkshire Chemicals works, will provide 1,620 homes with more than 500 of those properties being affordable tenures.

Latimer is the development arm of Clarion Housing Group. the UK’s largest housing association.

As consented in April 2022, the scheme would comprise 11 buildings of eight to 17 storeys, townhouses, and a student accommodation scheme of 355 bedspaces. However, revisions to the scheme, namely increasing build-to-rent and reducing student spaces, have been lodged, with a verdict expected this autumn.

The new bridge replaces a ‘bailey’ bridge. Credit: via Tigerbond

In addition to housing, the masterplan includes more than five acres of public open space including a new square and a riverside park.

Richard Cook, group development director at Latimer said: “It’s pleasing to see our scheme at Kirkstall Road achieve another significant milestone as enabling works continue on site.

“We are confident that this development will be a game-changer for Kirkstall Road and Leeds as a whole, providing a high-quality mixed use, tenure blind, sustainable community that will attract residents, businesses and visitors.  Even more encouraging is the activity we are starting to see in the surrounding areas.”

Henry Beaver, chief executive of Beaver Bridges, said: “With the ongoing roadworks in the centre of Leeds, it was a challenging location to bring the bridge sections into place for final splicing, but our internal logistics team did an excellent job in managing this on behalf of the client.”

The bridge links up a scheme of 1,650 homes. Credit: via Tigerbond