Councillors debate historic buildings at risk

Leeds City Council’s Joint Plans Panel discussed a report on historic listed buildings in the city at risk of neglect and decay at its meeting on 17 December.

There are 112 buildings deemed to be at risk out of a total of 2,478 listed buildings in the city. Of those 112 buildings at risk, 13 are in south Leeds (Beeston & Holbeck and Hunslet & Riverside wards).

Two of what the Council call the ‘Big Three’, Temple Works in Holbeck and Hunslet Mill are in South Leeds. As we have reported, Hunslet Mill is part of a major restoration which will see it converted into apartments.

Temple Works’ fate is less secure as its new owner CEG continues to explore how to save the building. Refurbishment works were described as some years off and will have to follow substantial stabilisation works. It is still hoped to house The British Library of The North when the works are complete.

Another major group of buildings Stank Hall Barn, Stank Hall and New Hall in Beeston were not discussed at the meeting. South Leeds Life understands that a private developer in in discussions with the Council about plans to turn the barn into a wedding venue.

Three more buildings, 37, 39 and 41 Hunslet Road, are terraced ‘workmen’s houses’ which fall within the Tetley Brewery site currently being redeveloped by Vastint. The developers were hoping to get the properties de-listed as their research shows they have been wrongly described and do not have historic merit.

16 and 18 Crown Point Road is the former Crown Hotel and an adjacent building. Planning permission has been granted to renovate and extend the building, reopening a pub on the ground floor with offices above.

The remaining properties are the bridge over the Hol Beck on Water Lane, the gatehouse at Temple Works and the Engine House at Tower Works on Globe Road, Holbeck.

 

3 Replies to “Councillors debate historic buildings at risk”

  1. We need these buildings to bring History to life for our future generations. South Leeds is getting swamped with high rise boxes. The planners and architects should be learning from these buildings that have stood the test of time.

  2. According to a post on the Facebook page of ‘Friends of Stank Hall Beeston’ the sale of Stank Hall Barn, Stank Hall and New Hall to the developers wishing to make it into a wedding venue fell through, apparently, sometime in or before June 2020. At the moment the ‘Friends’ are in discussions with LCC for the ‘Friends’ to take on the site as per the agreement made should the sale not go ahead.

    The ‘Friends’ are a voluntary group who have over several years had a licence to grow fruit and vegetables in the grounds despite several occasions of vandalism on the site. This was then distributed to the needy and pensioners of Beeston. However this has been curtailed in both 2019 by the proposed sale and in 2020 by the Covid 19 lockdowns.

    However if the council DOES agree to honour their agreement, which is still debatable unfortunately, they do have plans to preserve the buildings and refurbish them as a mixture of housing and using the barn as a display/meeting area for the benefit of the residents of South Leeds.

    1. Thanks for that Stephen. In November 2020 I heard from the council that they were still in negotiations with the developer. Personally I would much prefer the Friends group, which by the way was formed following a public meeting organised by South Leeds Life many moons ago, to take ownership of the site on behalf of the community.

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