Over the past year, members of our Heritage Watch group have produced a series of articles highlighting the current condition of ten buildings on Leeds Civic Trust’s Heritage at Risk list. We have greatly enjoyed sharing these articles with you and hope they have been both informative and engaging.
As we approach the end of 2025, our Heritage Watch group have been reflecting on our future direction and how we can better highlight the challenges facing buildings and structures across the city, not only for you, our members, but also for the wider public.
This final article will conclude our current Top 10 series and offer updates on several of the buildings we’ve highlighted. It will also be our final update in this current format, but you can look forward to hearing more from us in 2026. We have also been working on updating our Heritage at Risk List and look forward to sharing this with you in the New Year.
As ever, we would be pleased to hear from members who have questions about, or concerns for, any historic building or structure in their local area, so please do get in touch.
83-89 & 91 Kirkgate
Following the collapse of No. 85 in April last year, we understand that works to repair the building on Kirkgate are likely to get underway early next year. Navigating the complex legal processes required to reach a stage where these privately owned buildings can be made safe has been a long and frustrating journey for many, including the local authority. We hope that as the repair works finally get underway, it will mark the beginning of a change in fortune for Lower Kirkgate and the start of a new chapter for the oldest street in Leeds. Click here for the full article
Otley Mechanics Institute
Our Heritage Watch Group members have been keeping an ear to the ground for news on the former Otley Mechanics Institute since our feature on the building in the November 2024 edition of Outlook. So far, we have yet to hear anything concerning this site, but we continue to watch for any developments. Click here for the full article
St Mary in the Woods, Morley
Since our last feature on this derelict former church building in the March 2025 edition of Outlook, there has been no news about its future. The building remains on the Trust’s Heritage at Risk list and we will continue to monitor its condition. Click here for the full article
- Thorpe Hall
We remain concerned for the future of Thorpe Hall. Leeds City Council’s Conservation Team had previously expressed an interest in visiting the property, but its current condition still remains unknown. As the property is Grade II* listed and featured on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register, we are planning to write to Historic England about the condition of the building and hope to seek some engagement with the current owners. Click here for the full article
Little Temple (Temple Newsam)
There has been no news on the Little Temple since our last article in May 2025. The building remains on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register and so we intend to write to Leeds City Council to open a dialogue around their plans for conserving and restoring this Grade II* listed asset. Click here for the full article
- South Gate Lodges at Roundhay Park
Members of our Heritage Watch group are actively involved in plans that could re-shape the future of these underappreciated structures. We look forward to sharing further updates with you in the coming months. Click here for the full article
42 The Calls
Earlier this year, we heard that the building had been sold, and we were hopeful that plans for a new use of this long-vacant site would emerge. In the months that followed, nothing further has come to light. Members of our Heritage Watch group and Planning Committee will continue to keep a close eye out for any future applications. Click here for the full article
No. 13 & Abbey Mills
Since our feature on the building in the August 2025 edition of Outlook, this Grade II listed mill complex has remained on the market with Nabarro McAllister. Click here for the full article
Meanwood Hall
In early November, we received a tip-off that a ‘Sold’ sign had appeared outside Meanwood Hall. A quick site visit by one of our members confirmed this. We will continue to monitor the site of signs of progress. Click here for the full article
Scott Hall Farm
Following our recent feature on this Grade II listed former merchant’s house, our Heritage Watch group is working to identify the current owner so that we might write to them directly regarding the site’s future. Click here for the full article
