Topic Projects, Social Value, Urban Living
Date 15 Nov 2023
Galliford Try's Building North East and Yorkshire business has completed the major £106m Monk Bridge PRS scheme in Leeds city centre, and handed it over to its client, City Developments Limited.
The five-block development, which is one of the most significant build-to-rent developments ever seen in the city of Leeds, has created 665 new homes, transforming the former Monk Bridge steel works site, close to the city’s main rail station.
As part of the redevelopment of the dormant brownfield site, 20 arches from the adjacent Grade-II listed Victorian viaduct have been carefully converted to provide space for retail and hospitality businesses, providing job opportunities and an economic boost to the city.
The first phase of the project, which included 309 of the 665 apartments, had been completed in December 2022, with residents moving in to blocks A, B, and C, and already beginning to create a vibrant community, while work has now been finished on blocks D and E to complete the development.
As well as the apartments, new communal areas have been created, including two private dining rooms, resident lounges, pocket parks, and an outdoor events space, providing Leeds with a unique venue that has an elevated vantage point over the rest of the city.
The scheme has provided a fantastic learning opportunity for entrants into the construction industry, with Galliford Try and its supply chain facilitating more than 1,000 weeks of apprenticeship training on site over the course of the build. This equates to 20 years of on-site experience for young people working in the area.
Cliff Wheatley, Managing Director for Galliford Try’s Building North East and Yorkshire business, said: “The city centre location, combined with our proximity to a Grade-II listed viaduct, a railway line, and the River Aire has made Monk Bridge one of our most challenging, yet rewarding projects.
“We’re particularly proud of the work we’ve done on what was one of a small handful of five-block developments in progress outside of London. It wouldn’t have been possible without a strong and robust supply chain that have been tremendous throughout.”
Neil McGinty, UK Development Director at City Developments Limited, said: “In Monk Bridge’s formative stages we considered dividing the project into two smaller sites, aware that the complexity of delivering on such a challenging site could restrict our choice of contractors.
“Galliford Try’s track record and considered offer gave us the confidence to keep the project as one and it was absolutely the right commercial and delivery decision. We’re delighted with the end result.”