The Core will soon be no more! The Headrow shopping centre could soon make way for an exciting new retail and living development.
Plans are being put forward to Leeds City Council that could see the demolition of The Core shopping centre on The Headrow in the next few years. Owners Tri7 and student accommodation developers Fusion Students have worked with award-winning architectural firm Corstorphine & Wright to design a new mixed-use development of retail and leisure units alongside a considerable amount of student accommodation.
The Core was completed back in 2009, a rebranding and restyling of The Headrow Shopping Centre that replaced the iconic Schofields department store after it closed down in 1996. A number of the units inside The Core, such as the first floor of the former HMV, are currently empty and have been for a long time, while other current tenants have already confirmed they will leave The Core when their current leases expire.
So what does the future have in store? If the new plans go ahead, The Core itself will be flattened and replaced by three new buildings. A 9-storey building will face on to The Headrow with the eight-storey and seven-storey buildings directly behind between Lands Lane and King Charles Street. Alongside the trio of new buildings, two new streets will connect Lands Lane with King Charles Street – one will bring back the historic King Charles Croft, the other will be completely new.
The use of the three buildings will be split across retail, leisure and student accommodation. There will be around 38,000 square foot of retail and leisure space fronting on to The Headrow, Lands Lane, part of King Charles Street and the two new streets. On the floors above, there are plans for around 809 student apartments, which will be accessed from the corner of The Headrow and King Charles Street.
Each of the buildings will be connected by lightweight bridges at the western edge of the site, but it’s the visual impact of the new designs that will stand out. In comparison to the tired look of The Core, each of the buildings will be constructed in laid brick with light brick detailing to match the style of nearby streets and the rest of Leeds city centre, while the upper levels will feature metal-cladded mansard roofs.
There’s still a way to go before these plans turn into reality. The project is currently at the pre-application stage and will be put forward to Leeds City Council’s City Plans Panel on Thursday 18th May 2023 to get their feedback before it undergoes an extensive consultation process ahead of a full planning application later in 2023. That being said, the future looks bright for this part of the city centre, doesn’t it?
Cover image credit: Corstorphine & Wright.
