Plans unveiled for residential scheme at £400m Kirkstall Forge development

Property developer CEG has submitted a planning application for 112 new family homes and 23,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and community space set around a public square at the £400m Kirkstall Forge development.

Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the reserved matters planning application unveils contemporary homes which are designed to resemble the stone of the old Forge building and Kirkstall Abbey.

Kirkstall Forge is situated within a wooded valley of the River Aire, with the river and canal flowing through the site, surrounded by woodland. The homes offer twelve foot high ceilings in livings spaces, open staircases, rooflights and open plan living.

James Shimwell, head of residential development at CEG, said: “This next phase of development will deliver a vibrant place for people to live, eat, drink and socialise. We have worked extensively with Leeds City Council and our designers to produce a scheme that will deliver the highest quality of contemporary design.”

The new homes offer a selection of gardens and terraces on different floors, with private roof terraces for the apartments. Some of the larger family homes will also benefit from the historic Mill Race flowing through the end of the garden.

Garages for parking and storage lie beneath the buildings to enable pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets which offer seating and play space.

The riverside terraces create gently sloping streets and a central riverside boulevard connects the new bridge to the station and south-facing riverside event spaces and proposed public square. Shops, cafés and restaurants will be located on the paved public realm and large communal courtyard garden.

Andrew Macintosh, associate at FCBStudios, said: “Much of our inspiration has been taken from ‘model villages’ such as Saltaire and the steep terraced streets found in many Yorkshire towns.

“The communal, pedestrian-friendly areas in front of the homes also benefits from contemporary Scandinavian ideas about co-housing and will help to build a true sense of community amongst those who are lucky enough to be the first to move into this pioneering new neighbourhood. This beautiful urban village creates spaces for a new generation to live, work and explore.”

Comprising a mix of family houses and apartments, subject to planning permission development could commence in autumn 2017 with homes available for sale in 2018. This first phase of houses at Kirkstall Forge will be the beginning of a new village.

CEG is leading the development of the 57 acre Kirkstall Forge site and has already managed more than £40m of investment into clearance, decontamination and infrastructure.

Following the opening of the new railway station, the first phase of commercial development completes this autumn, delivering number One Kirkstall Forge, a 110,000 ft², seven-storey Grade A office building, which is already 50% let to Zenith for its new headquarters.

Once complete, the site will become a mixed-use community, comprising 1,050 new homes, 300,000 sq ft of offices and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and community space. More than 10,000 people will live, work and visit the site.

Jon Kenny from CEG said: “We have invested heavily in regenerating this unique brownfield site and are committed to delivering an ambitious and innovative development for Leeds.

“Kirkstall Forge is unique, it will deliver fresh, sustainable new ways of living and working amongst acres of green space in a wooded riverside setting. With contemporary housing, restaurants, cafés, a school, leisure space and light-filled offices, it will provide the vibrancy of city life as well as the tranquillity of the outdoors.”

Kirkstall Forge is expected to generate an estimated £5m a year in retail spend in the area.

CEG has recruited Aisling Ramshaw as head of marketing and sales at Kirkstall Forge.

Aisling said: “I’m delighted to be involved in the most ambitious project in the North of England. Kirkstall Forge is a truly great example of how placemaking can be done well. We expect strong demand in the houses when we go to market, as they offer a truly unique style of housing where the design detail has been considered to the highest levels.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →