Holbeck Urban Village first started undergoing regeneration in 1999. More recently, it was announced that construction group Carillion had been chosen to undertake an £80 million scheme to start reviving the Tower Works factory area. Carillion's proposed developments include 92,000 square foot of offices and 20,000 square foot of restaurants and bars, with around 147 flats.
Earlier this year, the wheels were put into motion to start restoration of the factory's three historic Italiante Towers at the heart of the village. Now it has been revealed that there are some interesting plans in store for the Engine House, which is central to the Tower Works site.
As one of five Grade II Listed buildings on the Tower Works complex, which closed in 1978, the Engine House was where the factory's engine and boiler were found. In future, it is hoped that the building will be repurposed to feature a restaurant and microbrewery bar on the ground floor, with an independent art house cinema on the upper floor.
It is also hoped that the Engine House will retain many of its historic features, such as a partial mosaic floor, glazed white brickwork walls and a series of plaques displaying portraits of Victorian industrialists, including original Tower Works founder Thomas Harding.
The Engine House will also front onto the planned Tower Works public piazza and, according to Carillion, will 'ensure that the site's heritage is celebrated as well as providing a key element on the route through the site from Global Road to the canal.'
The Engine House designs will form part of the master-plan for the wider site, set to be submitted for planning approval in the summer.
Jestico Whiles
With the finished article still some time away, take a look at some of our favourite restaurants in Leeds in the meantime.