Councillors on the City Plans Panel welcomed proposed changes to Phase 2 of Platform’s mixed use developement at Sweet Street West in Holbeck at their meeting last Thursday (8 May 2025).
The site is subject to a hybrid planning consent, with full approval for Phase 1 comprising three residential blocks facing Sweet Street West, one office block facing Marshall Street, a social ‘pavilion’ and the refurbisment of the Commercial pub. There is outline approval for three further residential blocks including a 30-storey tower block at the western end of the site and a second office block to the south of the site next to the former Holbeck Library building (all outlined in white on the image above).
The deveopers are proposing to reroute the service road that runs through the site closer to the railway. This will increase the central pedestrianised public open space by 25%. Lowering the heights of the blocks immeadiately south of the central space from 14 to 8 storeys will improve natural light in the area. The block to the west will be increased in height to 23 storeys and angled to align with the railway. The changes will also allow for 31 more trees to be planted across the site.
There is a move away from the red brick facades of phase 1 with paler bricks and green detailin. The corners of blocks chamfered to soften their impact and more dual aspect flats will be incorporated.
The Panel were supportive of the realigned service road, the changes to the residential blocks and the overall changes to the development. This was a Pre-application presentation, a full application for Phase 2 will come forward in due course.
Work on Phase 1 has already commenced with the first residential building, comprising 451 flats, due to complete in January 2027.
You can read the report to panel here and view the presentation slides here (Sweet Street West starts on page48)
You watch the meeting here, the discussion on Sweet Street West starts at 2 hrs 38 mins:
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