Leeds own New York High Line is finally gathering pace after receiving seed funding and interest from potential investors to transform the mile long stranded railway infrastructure.
The project is starting by transforming just a section of the 92 arched viaduct to show proof of the concept.
The viaduct hasn’t been used the 1980s after being built during the industrial revolution for the London and Western Railway.
Source: Hannah Clark | All Rights ReservedOnly ten minutes from Leeds railway station could be transformed into a green travel route and sky park from the city centre to Elland Road through South Leeds.
As part of this a section of the viaduct will be transformed to show proof of the concept.
Rosa Headford an architect at Edward and Riley Architects is developing the current design proposals and looking at how people could access and use the viaduct.
“The viaduct is an important part of Leeds heritage and history. I think there’s great opportunity to protect that character while giving the structure a new purpose and making it part of the city again” said Headford
Headford said “I really liked the idea of giving an existing structure a new life and making it something people can actually use and enjoy”.
“There’s a big social value to the project” said Headford. “I really liked the idea of giving an existing structure a new life and making it something people can actually use and enjoy”.
Buro Happold, the integrated consulting engineers and advisors working on the project, also worked on New York’s High Line.
“We understand the value that high-quality public realm and cultural spaces bring” said John Shakespeare from Buro Happold “and we have hard data on the regenerative power of the project”.
Source: Edward Architects | All Rights Reserved“Leeds could have a linear park in the not too distant future” said Shakespeare.
The Holbeck Viaduct Project won the Future Public Realm award at The Pineapple Awards in April this year.