Work commences on Leeds South Bank neighbourhood
Platform_ and Housing Growth Partnership have formed a £150m joint venture to deliver the first phase of a 1.3m sq ft mixed-use development on the city’s Sweet Street.
The build-to-rent developer and HGP, a Lloyds-backed equity investor, has appointed Winvic Construction as the main contractor.
This first phase will see 451 BtR apartments built, as well as a 4,000 sq ft grocery store, a new public square, and the refurbishment of historic pub, the Commercial Inn.
The project team is made up of DLG Architects, structural engineers Meinhardt, Leeds-based consultants CGP-MEP, landscape architects LDA Design, quantity surveyors KS4, consultants Bureau Veritas CDM, and fire engineer consultants Fire Dynamics.
Completion is scheduled for the start of 2027.
The previously vacant site will comprise a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and amenities including a gym, residents’ lounges, coworking spaces, roof terraces, and green spaces.
The project marks Winvic’s third collaboration with Platform_, following the delivery of BtR developments in Sheffield and Cardiff.
The planned public square. Credit: Platform via Big Partnership
Overall, the wider neighbourhood site will consist of 1,351 BtR homes and 150,000 sq ft of commercial space.
Having secured planning permission from Leeds City Council in 2023, the entire development will represent more than £500m of investment.
Representatives from Platform_, HGP, and Winvic were joined at the groundbreaking ceremony by Cllr James Lewis, leader of LCC.
He said: “It’s really pleasing to see this prominent brownfield site in Holbeck, the former industrial heartland of our city, being transformed from its current derelict state by a scheme that has such an emphasis on sustainability, inclusivity and quality of life.
“The development promises to be a landmark addition to the already-thriving South Bank and will also, by creating new homes and jobs, complement our wider efforts to ensure Leeds is a place with opportunities for all.”
Jean-Marc Vandevivere, CEO at Platform_, said: “Our new joint venture with HGP will accelerate the delivery of much-needed homes in Leeds, bringing an important city centre site that has been vacant for over 15 years back into use.”
Winvic’s managing director for multi-room, Mark Jones, added: “This development will play a key role in transforming the Leeds skyline, and we are proud to be part of it.
“With our collaborative approach and focus on quality and excellence, we’re confident in the successful delivery of this development, and we look forward to progressing through the construction phases toward completion.”
