Aire Park Leeds: The Urban Oasis

What is Aire Park?

Aire Park sits in the heart of the Leeds South Bank project, the biggest regeneration in Leeds and one of the top regeneration projects in the North. The expansive recreation area will host regular activities and events. It will be one of the most sought-after parks in Leeds to spend time in, whether it is for the many planned events, work breaks, meeting others, or simply relaxing.

Aire Park is supporting the expansion of Leeds City Centre. Its purpose is quite alike to Leeds Innovation Arc. This large urban park is to provide a sustainable design and a vital link between the city centre and the further districts. Its concept is part of Leeds’ aim to become a 15-minute city to make everything residents and workers need to be within walking distance. This is to ultimately make use of redundant cars in the city, helping achieve the target of Net Zero.

Phase One

The first phase of Aire Park reached structural completion back in February 2023. However, work on the 200,000 sq. ft. of commercial space’s interior is to continue.

The buildings in their entirety comprise two office buildings and six flexible retail spaces across the ground floor. The six-to-eight floors of offices offer 23,000 sq. ft. of space. Alongside impressive ESG credentials, these offer some of the largest Grade A floorplates available in Leeds. These commercial buildings are powered by renewable energy and have an EPC rating of A and a WELL Building Gold certification.

Due to the likes of Channel 4 migrating their headquarters to Leeds, these offices have been built to accommodate similar large-scale organisations. Aire Park is already attracting major interest from large businesses to follow in Channel 4’s footsteps.

This project will be completed later this year. However, it is due to open to the public in 2024 alongside Aire Park’s 8-acre public park. This is while the third commercial building continues construction.

An Urban Oasis

Forget one of the largest city parks in Leeds – how about the largest city park in the UK? Much of the 8-acre green space on Tetley’s brewery wharf will offer event space, cafes, and a playground. The regenerations are reclaiming roads and car parks to make way for more green spaces alongside The Tetley.

Green landscaping is due to transform Crown Point Road, soon to become Leeds’ ‘new green heart’. People can expect tree-lined lawns, new cycleways, and wider footpaths. On top of this, hundreds of trees and plants will aid wildlife and support Leeds’ Net Zero ambitions.

The existing green space at Sovereign Square is to act as a gateway to Aire Park. Former Meadow Lane roads are also being narrowed or reposed into new gardens. The traffic-free David Oluwale Bridge will connect Sovereign Square to the park. This will provide fast and sustainable access to help Leeds’ 15-minute city plans.