As plans for the Heart of Holbeck project continue to develop, we caught up with Elissa Newman, Chief Officer of Holbeck Together, to talk about what the investment means for the local community, the role of Holbeck Together, and how residents can stay involved as the project moves forward.
Q: Elissa, tell us a bit more about the Heart of Holbeck project…
Elissa: Heart of Holbeck is a major investment in the Holbeck area, bringing together partners including Leeds City Council, Holbeck Together and Leeds Building Society with a shared commitment to improving everyday life locally.
The funding comes from central Government and was originally known as the Levelling Up Fund, now referred to as the Regeneration Fund. Its purpose is to invest in local infrastructure, reduce inequalities, boost local pride and support communities that have historically received less investment.
For Holbeck, that means looking at the wider picture — community spaces, housing, highways, green spaces and public areas. From Holbeck Together’s point of view, it is about creating modern, welcoming and accessible spaces for all generations to use and enjoy, particularly through the redevelopment of St Matthew’s Community Centre and the Old Box Office.
Q: Why is this kind of investment important for health and wellbeing in Holbeck?
Elissa: We know that where people live has a big impact on their health and wellbeing. Safe streets, green spaces, welcoming community buildings and opportunities to connect with others all make a real difference.
In Holbeck, health inequalities cannot be tackled by health services alone. By working closely with public health, the NHS and the council, we can help bring services and advice closer to the heart of the community. Through Heart of Holbeck, we have an opportunity to create spaces that help people stay well, feel less isolated and access support earlier.
Q: How did Holbeck Together become involved in the project?
Elissa: Holbeck Together has been part of this journey for a long time. Leeds City Council, with ourselves as partners, first submitted an application in 2022. Although that first bid was not successful, a huge amount of work had already gone into shaping the ideas, understanding local need and developing proposals that could make a real difference.
As a charity working in Holbeck every day, we were able to bring direct knowledge of the community into those conversations. We had already been exploring practical ideas for how St Matthew’s could be modernised and used more effectively by local people, community groups and services.
At the same time, we were working closely with Leeds Building Society, who were exploring how their building (the Old Box Office and our current office space) could be used more fully for community benefit. That meant the funding opportunity aligned with the council’s ambitions around housing, highways and green spaces, and with our own ambitions as a charity to develop two buildings with even greater potential as community hubs.
When the funding opportunity came around again, partners reviewed and strengthened the proposals. The project has now secured more than £15 million through the Regeneration Fund, which is a huge step forward for Holbeck.
Q: It sounds like a lot has happened before any building work has even started.
Elissa: Absolutely. Projects like this do not happen overnight. There has been a significant amount of time, energy and commitment from all partners to get to this point.
For Holbeck Together, our role has been to help ensure the investment is shaped around real local need. We know the people, groups and services who use these spaces, and we understand how important it is that any development genuinely improves day-to-day life in Holbeck.
Q: What will local people see as a result?
Elissa: From Holbeck Together’s side, the aim is to create a modernised St Matthew’s that supports our services, while also offering wider benefit to other community groups and local residents.
The Old Box Office is another exciting opportunity, as Leeds Building Society supports us in repurposing the building for community use. As a business originally founded in Holbeck as Leeds and Holbeck Building Society, it is fantastic to see this national organisation investing in the area where its story began. We are hopeful that work will begin on the Old Box Office by November.
Through our developing partnerships with Leeds Building Society and Leeds United FC, we are also seeing wider businesses come on this journey with us, which is really positive. It shows that Heart of Holbeck is not one organisation’s project — it is a shared effort to bring lasting benefit to the area.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council: Heart of Holbeck is part of the Leeds Ambition to be a healthy, growing, thriving and resilient city through improving access to greenspaces, community activities, education and employment, and housing standards for everyone who lives, works or travels through Holbeck.
When this project is complete, everyone will be positively impacted in some way by the regeneration across the area to live happier and healthier lives.
They will see the project create modern, flexible spaces at St Matthew’s Community Centre and will also ensure the Old Box Office can continue to meet the needs of the community into the future.
At least 180 of the area’s oldest terraced homes will get major energy efficiency upgrades to make them warmer and greener, helping to reduce energy bills and improve comfort and health for the people who live there.
Streets and green areas such as Domestic Street, Top Moor Side and Holbeck Moor will be made cleaner, safer, and easier to move around, with better routes for walking, cycling, and spending time outdoors.
The works are also a key part of wider South Leeds regeneration projects which will link neighborhoods together and provide improved access to the City Centre, new career and training opportunities, better transport links, new affordable homes and long-term investment.
Q: How are residents being involved?
Elissa: We want the people of Holbeck to feel informed, involved and listened to.
Over the past five years, as the project and ideas have developed, we have worked hard to reflect the needs, hopes and ambitions we hear every day from clients, residents and community groups. The briefing and information events at the end of May were an important part of that process, and there will be ongoing consultation and clear opportunities for people to hear updates and share their views over the coming months.
This is about listening, responding and making sure the services, spaces and support we develop genuinely matter to people in Holbeck.
Q: How can local people stay up to date?
Elissa: People can visit the Commonplace website at heartofholbeck.commonplace.is, where updates, plans and opportunities to comment are shared. The site includes information about the proposals for St Matthew’s and the Old Box Office, as well as the wider Heart of Holbeck programme.
Photo: Elissa Newman, Chief Officer of Holbeck Together
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