Leeds has received a huge boost in funding to build the UK’s largest city centre park, along with an impressive new River Aire footbridge.
Leeds City Council is set to receive £18.604 million from the ‘Get Building Fund’, part of a £52.6 million bid to the government by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).
Of this funding, £8.6 million has been allocated towards a new park in the city centre, located at the former Tetley Brewery site and to support the installation of a new River Aire footbridge from Sovereign Square linking the park to Leeds Station.
Work will be underway to transform road space at Meadow Lane and Crown Point Road into green space to allowfor active travel through South Bank and space for pedestrians.
This will include the closure of two pay-and-display car parks and conversion of 50,000 square feet of highway land.
The council has also announced £7.4million will go towards the expansion of Temple Green Park and Ride, and £2.604million will be used to improve older terraced homes in the Holbeck area.
Start dates for the three projects which will help boost economic growth, help tackle climate change and improve residents wellbeing, will be announced soon with all works due to be complete by 2022.
Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding as it will allow us to press ahead with three shovel-ready schemes in Leeds. These are all projects that will help reduce our city’s carbon impact and help the economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Securing this funding shows how quickly the council and the city can respond when the right financial support becomes available.”