Leeds-Urban Futures

• Location and Importance

  • Center for the arts with arts galleries and music venues
  • Largest city in north Yorkshire
  • Second biggest metropolitan district covers 500 km square metres
  • City's population is 800,000 increased by 10% in the last decade
  • It has a strong economy and attracted many jobs
  • Well developed transport infrastructure with M1 and the M62 nearby
  • Good rail links travel time of 2 hours to London
  • International airport Leeds bradford
  • Several universities with research centers
• Migration

  • 17% of the population are black and ethnic groups
  • Residents who are Non UK born live in the Gipton and Harehills wards of the city
  • The city has an immigrants from the commonwealth in the 1950's meaning there is a West Indian carnival every year
  • Very diverse ethnic society in Leeds Irish groups establishing themselves in the 19th century
  • Irish migration numbered 30,000 found work in laboring and manufacturing jobs
  • After WW2 the city welcomed- Polish,Ukrainian and Hungarian refugees
  • Around 89% of the Leeds population was born in Leeds
  • ONS stated in 2013 that there was between 6000 and 9000 new long term immigrants in the city
  • Net migration of 1700
• Character of the city

  • The university influence of the city with 30,000 students and 700 staff at the university of Leeds alone
  • This great number causes demand for housing as they are important for the econemy
  • Leeds has a high proportion of people who are young and aged 15
  • Many retail and entertainment business cater for the teenage and young adult market
  • Thriving cafe culture
• Way of life - Industry

  • Headquarters of ASDA and Danish company ARLA
  • It has a well developed digital infrastructure
  • Many creative industries work from hubs based in old Victorian buildings
  • M&S opened there first arcade in Leeds in 1884 and grew from there
• Way of life - Sport

  • In the 2014 tour de France took place in Leeds
  • Millions of people lined the streets
  • This was part of the Yorkshire bid to raise the profile of the city
  • There are football and rugby teams as well as a Cricket ground
• Way of life - New development

  • New buildings are being erected along the waterfront and canal
  • The counsel plan to build affordable housing to tackle the homeless issue
  • Some business change there names in the week to provide a different experience for the young people
  • There has been a large scale redevelopment though not all have full ocupancy
• Surrounding area

  • The city sit close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National parks
  • There is areas of outstanding natural beauty nearby
• Challenges - Studification

  • Is a term to describe a student comunity replacing the local communtiy
  • The true south Headingley and Hyde Park
  • studification creates a demographic inbalance
  • There is more pubs and resturants adn these areas are crime hotspots particually with antiosocial behaviour
  • Pride in the community and appearance of housing tends to be reduced
• Challenges - Housing availability

  • Due to studification areas have seen a rise in property prices
  • There has been local housing developments built along the Leeds canal
• Challenges - Transport issues

  • There is demand for a better mass transportation system
  • Fares are rising and there is a need for a well developed tram system to reach more areas of the city
• Challenges - Waste management

  • Every household produces 590g of waste a year
  • 16,110 tonnes of waste annually
  • Leeds council plan to reduce waste and improve recycling by changing fortnightly collections and building a new recycling facility
• Challenges - Social iniquity

  • The gap between the wealthiest and poorest residents if significant
  • over 15% of residents are on job seekers allowance
  • in 2015 Weetwood figure was o.2%
  • Leeds was identified as having the 3rd largest iniquity in any city in the UK
• Challenges - Loss of local business

  • Large retail developments such as Eastgate and Trinity have taken up local investment at the expense of local business,leading to loss of independent,local businesses
• Sustainable initiatives - Plans for the South Bank

  • Infrastructure and investment including a new HS2 station
  • Supports retail,esquire,financial services
  • Cultural centre at the old Tetley brewery will support art
  • Educational improvements linked to Leeds city college particularly for vocational courses
  • A new 3.5 hectare park and open space along the waterfront
  • Over 300,000 square metres of development land available
  • Creation of Holbeck Urban Village to improve the physical and social environment
  • New pedestrian and cycle bridges
  • Clearance Dock will become Leeds Dock and contain entertainment,restaurants and retail developments
  • Water taxis and shuttle buses will connect the area reducing carbon dioxide emissions