Back in 2019, in the depths of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Leeds Civic Trust launched a competition to re-imagine a much-neglected part of the city. We called this Eastside – roughly comprising the area from Quarry Hill as far as East Street and taking in Leeds Minster and Penny Pocket Park – the greenspace that abuts the railway viaduct.
We felt that the mass of roadspace (18 lanes of traffic between the Palace Pub and Saxton Gardens) could be reduced, extending Penny Pocket Park, revealing Lady Beck (currently culverted) and even releasing some land for development to pay for this. We named the new park “Livett Park” after the pioneering Director of Housing Leeds RAH Livett, who was the architect of tens of thousands of pre and post war council houses in Leeds including Quarry Hill and Saxton Gardens. We also felt that St Peter’s Street (the road that leads to Eastgate) could be greened and some of the land around the bus station rationalised. We commissioned the then employer of Hannah Beard, who won our rei-imagine competition, to produce a compelling vision for the area: a kind of sales document to enthuse decision-makers about the possibilities for change, building on the competition entries received.
The first steps towards the revitailsation of this area include plans to revamp Penny Pocket Park. Leeds Civic Trust invested some money with partners at Leeds City Council and Wades Charity to commission Groundwork to look at ways to improve this important greenspace but also considering adjacent public real including Minster Gardens. Most of the funding needed to implement the scheme has been identified and it is hoped that improvements on the ground can commence in 2027. The first piece in the jigsaw is a new mural which has been installed under the viaduct near the former Mecca Bingo.
But perhaps most exciting of all is the current live consultation launched by Leeds City Council which considers the whole area. We know that Leeds City Council has commissioned various studies to look at options for improvement in the last couple of years and whilst the consultation starts with a blank sheet of paper, we presume that the Council already have plans up their sleeves which, we hope, will chime with our ambitions to make this area of Leeds more liveable. Please do respond to the consultation at the link below:
