Full of festive cheer and to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas, we’re taking a moment to reflect on some of the brilliant occasions, events and milestones which have taken place at Aire Park this year.
We kicked off 2024 with the opening of our new public realm including The Tetley Green, Tetley Triangle and Theatre Gardens. These green spaces, seating areas and planting beds brought the first hint of our 8-acre public park, which on completion will feature 700 trees and be the largest new city centre green park in the country. Since then, we’ve added even more greenery to the development along Crown Point Road which we cannot wait to open to the public in summer 2025.
This new green area, currently behind hoardings and fences until the grass germinates and planting work is completed, will soon become the gateway to the second phase of the Aire Park masterplan. Having submitted our outline planning application for this phase earlier this year, we are eagerly awaiting a decision on our plans which will bring 502 high-quality homes, including affordable housing, over 20,000 sq ft of flexible ground floor space for leisure use and of course – more green space.
Whilst Christmas may be the time to eat, drink and be merry, we got stuck into all three early, with the reopening of The Tetley under the management of the brilliant Kirkstall Brewery in April. Whilst our plans to refurbish The Tetley are progressing, Kirkstall has taken over the lease of the former headquarters of Tetley Brewery, breathing new life into this the landmark of Yorkshire beer culture. Kirkstall has created a contemporary, fresh and friendly venue and events space which celebrates the rich history of beer making in Leeds and Yorkshire.
This brilliant venue even played host to Vastint UK’s UKREiiF activities – the infamous Aire Park Grand Prix. Across the two days, we saw hundreds of hopefuls from across the property and construction sector race on our giant eight-lane Scalextric track as the endeavoured to take home one of our three grand prizes.
Shortly after UKREiiF, the much anticipated 1&3 South Brook Street completed, the first of our new commercial buildings. Offering 190,000 sq ft of grade A office space and some of the largest floorplates in Leeds, there’s already been significant interest from businesses looking to call Aire Park home and we can’t wait to welcome them to our growing community.
In fact, 3 South Brook Street’s incredible atrium has already been used plenty of times including playing host to Insider Media’s Invest in Leeds breakfast. Head of development north at Vastint UK, Simon Schofield was joined by chief officer of asset management and regeneration at Leeds City Council Angela Barnicle and a panel of speakers from across industries to discuss a subject close to our hearts, the success of Leeds and its people.
However, as one set of buildings complete, another begins! August saw the installation of the first modular elements of our next mixed-use building. Featuring a striking bull nose design and adorned with dark green glazed bricks reminiscent of those found inside the neighbouring former Tetley HQ, this new space will provide a fantastic gateway to Aire Park. On completion, this seven-storey building will include ground floor retail units and alongside six floors of Grade A office space with an impressive rooftop terrace offering stunning views of Aire Park and the city.
The new beginnings haven’t been limited to Aire Park though. This year we were thrilled to gain a number of new neighbours including our friends at the newly reopened Sheaf Street. The building and courtyard are now home to co-working space Neighbourhood, events and live music venue Attic and a North Bar complete with Mexican inspired taco counter!
As the darker nights drew in, Light Night Leeds once again came to the city. This year Aire Park played host to an incredible laser art installation, entitled Parallels created by Architecture Social Club, which saw hundreds of visitors come down to the Tetley Triangle to experience the art and meet our interactive Globots and Pixel Heads.
But the fun didn’t stop there! Days later we welcomed LEGO® brick master builders Kevin Hall and Emily Corl from Brick Galleria who created The Tetley in a very different light… The Leeds landmark was recreated in incredible LEGO® brick form in 416 hours, using a total of 92,164 LEGO® parts, and is now housed in the window of 3 South Brook Street. Always keen to inspire others, we used the unveiling of the model as an opportunity to welcome the community to take part in LEGO® brick building workshops around the theme of ‘Leeds by nature’ which saw the creation of some incredible pieces of art from water taxis and artefacts from the Royal Armouries to the Leeds Minster!
The LEGO® Tetley model was also a hit with the attendees of our recent Women in Property event. ‘Aire Park Unveiled’ welcomed guests to 3 South Brook Street for an informative presentation on neighbourhood creation from our planning manager Louise Robinson and commercial property manager Hannah Rhodes, which explored the site’s heritage and how we’re using its history to shape the future of Aire Park.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that was it for 2024, but no, we are thrilled to be ending on a high with a planning approval to bring one of Europe’s largest EV charging facilities to Leeds. This exciting new addition will be located to the north of Great Wilson Street and will serve the occupants of Aire Park’s commercial district, offering 433 spaces, all equipped with EV charging capabilities. In line with our commitment to promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles, the car park will also feature a secure cycle hub on the ground floor with 516 bike-spaces, a bike wash, and service stations, making sustainable options the easy choice for the future users of Aire Park.
So as out of offices get turned on and people prepare to enjoy the festive break, everyone at the Vastint UK team and Aire Park, would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the new year to see Aire Park bloom further in 2025.
