Industry leaders come together for Europe’s largest regeneration project at MIPIM 2017

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY LEEDS CITY COUNCIL, HS2 GROWTH PARTNERSHIP, WEST YORKSHIRE COMBINED AUTHORITY AND THE LEEDS CITY REGION ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP

More than 100,000 passengers a day pass through Leeds Station, making it the busiest in the north.

The station is also at the heart of Leeds city centre and the South Bank, Europe’s largest regeneration project and a leading destination for investing, living, learning and leisure.

Leeds City Council, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and HS2 Growth Partnership are part of a public-private collaboration, driving forward the transformation of the Leeds Station area – which will integrate HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade and Northern Rail into the Yorkshire Hub.

They came together today at MIPIM 2017 to host a joint event to showcase the investment opportunities at Leeds, with input from a panel of industry experts.

The event was focused on how the Yorkshire Hub (Leeds Station) will deliver growth through connectivity and the wider regeneration opportunities for the city region including the South Bank. The partnership is also warming up the market for the future procurement of a development partner(s) for the South Bank and other Leeds locations.
Panelists:

• Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council (Introduction)
  Jon Emery, Managing Director of Property, Europe, Lendlease (Chair)
  Ian Mulcahey, Managing Director, Gensler
  Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council
  Kersten England, Chief Executive, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
  Jamie Kerr, Managing Director, HS2 Growth Partnership
  Jon Kenny, Director, Commercial Estates Group
  Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“Leeds Station is the busiest station in the north, and a key piece of national infrastructure which is critical to the success of the Northern Powerhouse. There have been significant improvements to services and spaces in the station, with the new franchises bringing new trains and increased capacity – and we are keen to build on these improvements and increase the pace of change ready for the arrival of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

“We have an ambitious vision for Leeds Station, as a distinctive world-class transport hub welcoming visitors to Leeds; as a major catalyst for development and regeneration in the city centre and on South Bank; and as a driver of growth in the dynamic city and city region economy.

“This ambition is being made reality thanks to our strong partnership of civic, business and transport leaders. We are all firmly committed to delivering the same thing – a new Leeds Station which will be a gamechanger for us as a city and region and something for us all to be proud of.”

Jamie Kerr, Managing Director of HS2 Growth Partnership, said:

“The Leeds Station project is a strong example of a truly collaborative environment, where the public and private sectors are working in partnership – and where the public sector is driving forward integrated transport-led regeneration and growth for the region.

“HS2 is just the icing on the cake for this ambitious development pipeline at Leeds, for which the station will be a game-changer with a lasting impact on the city centre and wider region for years to come.

“Our event at MIPIM was a showcase for the work done to date and gave our industry peers a chance to find out more about the opportunities involved.”
Kersten England, Chief Executive of Bradford Council and Inward Investment Lead for the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said:

“Significant development is already underway or in the pipeline in Leeds City Region to ensure our growing £62.5 billion economy sees the greatest possible economic returns from HS2 and other major infrastructure investment.

“The public and private sectors are working together to maximise these growth opportunities, including putting in place a £1 billion-plus package of local transport investment to ensure that the whole City Region is HS2-ready. The landmark Leeds Station development, together with other transformational schemes such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, is set to boost Leeds City Region’s national and international connectivity further still and create even more exceptional investment opportunities.”

A world-renowned consortium, led by Atkins and made up of a group of leading global design, engineering and project management consultants, has been appointed to develop the masterplan which will guide the revamp of Leeds Station into a distinctive modern destination and fully integrated national transport hub.

The project is expected to create over 10,000 local jobs and will help Leeds Station to accommodate its anticipated growth in passenger numbers, which are expected to reach the same level as Gatwick Airport within the next five years and to more than double over the next 30 years. An updated station masterplan is likely to be completed by summer 2017.