Criterion Place
Encyclopedia
Criterion Place was a proposed skyscraper development in Leeds
, West Yorkshire
, England
. In July 2008 it was announced that the project is to be cancelled owing to the property market slump.
, was previously home to the Queen's Hall, a building which was originally a tram and then a bus depot and had latterly became a venue hosting events such as exhibitions, flea market
s and concerts. The Queen's Hall was demolished in 1989. http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielrobot/2326269935/
Since demolition, the site has been used as a surface level car park. Early proposals for development on the site had included, in 1995, plans for an office building designed by Norman Foster
of about 60 m - 70m in height to house Royal London Insurance. http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Data/Competitions.aspx This development, however, did not go ahead but some small scale development on part of the car park was developed in the past ten years which included construction of a six storey office building for British Telecom and construction of a nine storey multi-storey car park
designed by Carey Jones with Bibi's restaurant
on the ground floor. Construction work to add two additional storeys to the Criterion Place multi-storey car park began in July 2008.
for the development for the site that included plans of a 32 storey tower by Rushbond & DLA Architects and another proposal for a 22 storey tower by DTR:UK. These two proposals had lost out to a twin tower scheme by Ian Simpson Architects
to be developed by Simons Estates which had proposed a scheme consisting of two glass towers of 47 storeys (160 m) and 29 storeys (105 m). This proposal comprised 326 apartments, offices and a 186 room hotel and was expected to cost £115 million. Advertising hoardings then appeared around the Queens Hall car park but no further site activity was apparent for the following two years.
In September 2007, engineers undertook survey work to establish the position of existing services in the vicinity of the proposed site. Bore hole work was then undertaken at several locations in the Queens Hall car park over the following weeks. In November 2007 a new proposal was lodged for a similar design but comprising two towers of 53 storeys (180 m) and 33 storeys (118 m). If the building had been constructed according to these revised proposals, the development would have exceeded the height of Beetham Tower Manchester
and Lumiere to become the tallest building in Leeds and Western Europe's tallest residential skyscraper.
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Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In July 2008 it was announced that the project is to be cancelled owing to the property market slump.
Background
The site, which is surrounded by Neville Street, Sovereign Street, Swinegate and Leeds City railway stationLeeds City railway station
Leeds railway station is the mainline railway station serving the city centre of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England...
, was previously home to the Queen's Hall, a building which was originally a tram and then a bus depot and had latterly became a venue hosting events such as exhibitions, flea market
Flea market
A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent...
s and concerts. The Queen's Hall was demolished in 1989. http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielrobot/2326269935/
Since demolition, the site has been used as a surface level car park. Early proposals for development on the site had included, in 1995, plans for an office building designed by Norman Foster
Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank
Norman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, OM is a British architect whose company maintains an international design practice, Foster + Partners....
of about 60 m - 70m in height to house Royal London Insurance. http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Data/Competitions.aspx This development, however, did not go ahead but some small scale development on part of the car park was developed in the past ten years which included construction of a six storey office building for British Telecom and construction of a nine storey multi-storey car park
Multi-storey car park
A multi-storey car-park is a building designed specifically to be for car parking and where there are a number of floors or levels on which parking takes place...
designed by Carey Jones with Bibi's restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
on the ground floor. Construction work to add two additional storeys to the Criterion Place multi-storey car park began in July 2008.
Ian Simpson "Kissing Towers" Proposals
In 2004, proposals were unveiled for large scale development on the site. This was originally from a competition by Leeds City CouncilLeeds City Council
Leeds City Council is the local authority for the City of Leeds metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England.-History:The city council was established in 1974, with the first elections being held in advance in 1973...
for the development for the site that included plans of a 32 storey tower by Rushbond & DLA Architects and another proposal for a 22 storey tower by DTR:UK. These two proposals had lost out to a twin tower scheme by Ian Simpson Architects
Ian Simpson Architects
Ian Simpson Architects is an English architecture practice established in 1987 by Ian Simpson and Rachel Haugh. The practice is based in Manchester with offices in London....
to be developed by Simons Estates which had proposed a scheme consisting of two glass towers of 47 storeys (160 m) and 29 storeys (105 m). This proposal comprised 326 apartments, offices and a 186 room hotel and was expected to cost £115 million. Advertising hoardings then appeared around the Queens Hall car park but no further site activity was apparent for the following two years.
In September 2007, engineers undertook survey work to establish the position of existing services in the vicinity of the proposed site. Bore hole work was then undertaken at several locations in the Queens Hall car park over the following weeks. In November 2007 a new proposal was lodged for a similar design but comprising two towers of 53 storeys (180 m) and 33 storeys (118 m). If the building had been constructed according to these revised proposals, the development would have exceeded the height of Beetham Tower Manchester
Beetham Tower, Manchester
Beetham Tower is a landmark 47-storey residential skyscraper in Manchester city centre, England. Completed in 2006, it is named after the developers, Beetham Organization, was designed by Ian Simpson, and built by Carillion....
and Lumiere to become the tallest building in Leeds and Western Europe's tallest residential skyscraper.