Citu unveils plans for dual bridge to provide 'social and economic change' to Leeds’ South Bank

Citu, the sustainable urban developer, is set to deliver a new 50 metre pedestrian bridge in Leeds’ South Bank, which will provide a direct link across the River Aire between the two sites of its Climate Innovation District.

The bridge will also connect previously isolated communities in Cross Green, Hunslet and the surrounding areas to a pedestrian route into the centre of the city.

The bridge, which can also be used by cyclists in line with Leeds City Council’s highways policy on new infrastructure, will perform a dual role. As well as creating a link, the 1.5m bridge wide has been engineered to accommodate Leeds City Council’s planned £40m district heat network over the river to the South Bank regeneration project.

Jonathan Wilson, development director at Citu, said: “The bridge will act as a catalyst for social and economic change at Hunslet Riverside and the wider South Bank. It will provide a crucial physical link across the river, better connecting the area to the city centre for pedestrians and cyclists; playing a key role in our ambition to create a car-free district in the heart of the city-centre.

“Citu’s whole ethos is to offer a model of how to build zero carbon neighbourhoods that also provide healthier, smarter and better-connected cities. Investing in this section of pipework for the district heat network infrastructure is an example of this, and we hope that the area will reap the economic and environmental benefits of having access to a low cost, low carbon heat source.”

The bridge is due for completion late summer 2018 to coincide with the first residents moving into homes at the Climate Innovation District; the first ecologically District of its scale in Europe.

The district will feature more than 520 low carbon Citu Homes including apartments and houses, alongside manufacturing, leisure, offices and climate resilient public realm.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, added: “This new footbridge will further enhance the South Bank regeneration, helping to improve connectivity and links to the heart of the city centre as well as being part of our exciting new city park project.

“The fact it will host the infrastructure for the new district heating network is also important as we look to get the network installed and operational helping to save people money on their heating bills and improving air quality in the city as soon as possible.”