£7m Phase 1 Infrastructure Works Complete at Temple Green

Roads are now officially open at Leeds’ largest advanced manufacturing and logistics base, Temple Green, following Aire Valley Land LLP concluding the first phase of infrastructure works at the 165 acre development – one of the largest of its type in the North of England.

Temple Green at J45 of the M1 is the largest of the four development sites in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone with planning permission in place for 2.64m sq ft of developed space.  The project is a joint venture between Evans Property Group and Harworth Estates.

The £7m first phase of a total £9.1m infrastructure and groundworks investment programme has now completed, creating 1.2 km of new dual carriageway and the remediation of 20 acres of development plots aimed at roadside dealerships and a petrol station in addition to Leeds City Council’s 1000 space Park and Ride transport hub.

Direct access to the scheme’s second phase is also complete.  This phase can accommodate up to 500,000 sq ft of advanced manufacturing or distribution space and is now development ready. Both phases have the potential to deliver hundreds of new jobs to the region.

Aire Valley Land LLP appointed Hall Construction last year to also commence the second phase of infrastructure works which includes additional road infrastructure and bridge over Wyke Beck leading to Phases 3 and 4, which when remediated can accommodate a further 1m sq ft of space. The second phase of works is scheduled for completion by autumn this year.

James Pitt, Development Director of Evans Property Group, said; “The infrastructure programme, which has been made possible from a combination of EZ Capital Grant Fund from the DCLG and Growing Places Fund loan from the LEP, opens up access to four phases of development equating to some 1.4m sq ft of manufacturing or logistics space, along with hundreds of new jobs. We are delighted to reach this pivotal stage at Temple Green.”

Ian Ball, Executive Director for Income Generation at Harworth Estates, said; “The completion of infrastructure works is always a major development milestone and this proves to the wider world that Temple Green is one of the North’s most exciting commercial developments.  We are now moving onto future development phases with significant enthusiasm and look forward to welcoming more occupiers to the site.”

Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake said; “The Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone is continuing to go from strength to strength and we are delighted these infrastructure works have now been completed. The council has worked closely with Aire Valley Land on this programme of works, as Temple Green is of key strategic importance not only for future business growth but also as the location for our new park and ride hub for the city.

“These elements together will help to provide new job opportunities for local people and will also ease traffic congestion in the city centre helping us improve air quality in Leeds.”

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said; “The Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone is a strategically important location, that I view as crucial to the LEP achieving its ambition to drive extraordinary growth to our and the national economy. Now with the completion of the first phase remediation works at Temple Green it’s clear that the scale of Aire Valley Land’s ambition is on a par with our own and I look forward to the potential future announcements regarding occupiers to the site, who will join an already esteemed group of businesses based on the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone.”

Appointed agents on Temple Green are CBRE, Dove Haigh Phillips and Gent Visick. Enquiries relating to the car dealership plots on Phase 1 should be made to John Roberts of Colliers International 0121 265 7553.

Temple Green is one of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zones which is supported by Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Leeds City Council, the Department of Communities and Local Government and Evans Property Group and Harworth Estates.