Safety measures will be needed to prevent high winds swirling around a planned 24-storey city centre flats development.
Councillors were told wind “baffles” would be used when early-stage designs for the scheme on land at Meadow Lane were presented.
Developer Glenbrook hopes to build 246 flats after an agreement was reached to buy the site from Leeds City Council.
The councl’s City Plans Panel was shown a slide show of the plans for the site, near the Adelphi pub and part of the South Bank area.
Architect Ian Emmerson told the meeting:
“We are looking to deliver a quality development. Noting the importance of the site, we see it as a key gateway between the city centre core and the emerging South Bank area.”
The development would range from six to 24 storeys and contain mainly one and two-bedroom apartments.
A council planning report said the baffles, designed to deflect strong winds, may be needed on the west and southern edges of the building.
It said: “Due to the scale and location of the development there is a significant potential for the generation of strong winds around the development.”
Mr Emmerson said the project team was hoping to minimise the use of baffles to limit visual impact on the building. He said:
“We are working through that process. It’s been the biggest challenge to date, I would suggest. There is a viable wind position we can take and make work on the site mitigation.”
The planning report said wind measures would be reviewed by an independent consultant appointed by the council.
Councillors gave informal approval to parts of the project at Thursday’s Civic Hall meeting, ahead of formal plans being drawn up.
This post was written by Don Mort, Local Democracy Reporter
Image: illustrative view looking towards Leeds Bridge House and the northern element of the proposed building
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