Delayed Kirkgate repairs 'to start this month'

2 hours ago

Michael Broomhead,Local Democracy Reporting Serviceand

Phil Towers,Yorkshire

News image — Leeds City Council insists that work is ongoing at Lower Kirkgate, but it has involved some "extremely complex planning"

BBC/Phil Towers A red 'Road Closed' sign which has on it some graffiti, in front of a multi-coloured hoarding. This is blocking off a row of brick buildings behind which have partially collapsed. — Leeds City Council insists that work is ongoing at Lower Kirkgate, but it has involved some "extremely complex planning"

Leeds City Council has said it aims to begin long-delayed repairs on a historical city centre street this month.

Lower Kirkgate has been closed to traffic since April 2024, when one of the 18th Century buildings partially collapsed.

Last month, the council said it was awarding a contract worth £680,000 for urgent maintenance on the street, which is one of the oldest in the city.

The authority thanked people for their patience and said months of work had gone into preparations for "stabilising these important heritage assets".

BBC/Phil Towers A road blocked by a number of orange and white cones, as well as two signs. One of them is red, with 'Road Closed' in white writing. The other is yellow, with 'Construction Deliveries only' in black writing. In the distance is a row of brick buildings which are blocked by two portacabins and metal fencing. — Lower Kirkgate is one of the oldest streets in the city, but a significant amount of work is needed to repair the collapsed buildings

The collapsed building is in a row of privately-owned properties.

Last year, Leeds City Council said the owner declined to carry out repair work, "citing a lack of funds".

The council said once it had carried out the repairs, it would seek to recover the costs.

The owner of the building has been approached for comment.

In September 2025, the council said a programme of repairs would be carried out by building firm Geo Houlton and Sons at a cost of £414,500.

It emerged last month that the expected cost had increased by more than £260,000 – to £680,000 – after surveys were carried out as part of preparatory work earlier this year.

BBC/Phil Towers A shop with a blue sign that reads 'Blue Collar Barbering', next to the multi-coloured hoarding blocking access to damaged brick buildings behind. The hoarding has 'Kirkgate' in large lettering on it. In the foreground, a man in a black jacket is sat at an outdoor table. — Businesses are still open at the top of Lower Kirkgate

A council spokesperson said: "The revised price reflects changes to the designs for the scheme that were made following structural surveys and ground condition checks carried out as part of this year's preparatory activity.

"An independent cost consultant has confirmed that, given the location and nature of the work to be undertaken, the revised price is a reasonable one."

Martin Hamilton, director of Leeds Civic Trust, said he was "very keen to see visible work start as soon as possible".

"The building collapsed around two-and-a-half years ago now," he said.

"Of course that's sad but I am looking ahead with optimism.

"Towards the top of the street, there are businesses doing really good things.

"I hope in the future we'll see new ownership for the buildings and new life put into them, with more vibrant businesses opening."

The authority thanked the local community for their support while work had been going on behind the scenes.

The spokesperson added: "It is important to remember the situation on Lower Kirkgate is not of the council's making, the owners of these privately-owned buildings allowed them to deteriorate into a state of collapse and then carried out wholly inadequate levels of works to protect these historical properties.

"After the owners refused to carry out any further works, the council has worked for months on careful planning and preparation to step in and now be in a position to begin stabilising these important heritage assets in the city centre."

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