Historic Leeds street transformed with traffic-free space and outdoor dining

A Leeds street popular in the Victorian era, New Briggate, has been transformed with investment, as part of an ongoing regeneration project of the Grand Quarter.

Once home to several vacant buildings, anti-social behaviour and pollution from the many buses operating in the area, it’s now a welcoming area for visitors and businesses.

Buses have been permanently re-routed to Vicar Lane as part of a £173.5m Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP) and the lower end of the street is being pedestrianised.

This traffic-free space has gained trees, benches and an increase in outdoor dining from local cafes and the introduction of a new street-food trading pitch.

The city received £1.3m of funding from Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) programme to revitalise the New Briggate area.

Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said: ‘New Briggate is an area filled with history – its many and varied buildings have countless tales to tell after providing special memories over the years for generations of people from Leeds.

‘It’s really pleasing, therefore, that the council is able to play its part in ensuring that this much-loved street can also look forward to a vibrant and successful future.

‘The newly-announced HAZ building improvement work will respect and protect New Briggate’s rich heritage while, at the same time, helping us deliver on our city-wide ambitions for people-focused regeneration and inclusive growth.’

To add to the area’s redevelopment, a new 100-seater restaurant, Kino, will be opening next dorr to the Leeds Grand Theatre this week.

This is following from the £18m Music Works improvements made to Opera North buildings on New Briggate and Harrison Street.

Improvements are also set to be made to four shops and commercial units opposite the theatre with a HAZ grant, restoring their original features and character.

Frontages will be enhanced, timber sash windows installed and repairs will be made to interiors on the vacant upper floors which will become residential apartments.

Other plans made with the HAZ grant include Heritage Open Days activities and a two-day festival of traditional skills, held in partnership with the Churches Conservation Trust.

New Briggate has also had wider pavements and enhanced cycling facilities installed, as well as more greenery planted to develop the area, as part of council efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

Photo by Leeds City Council