There will be a family-fun day of free activities on Saturday 14 May 2022 to mark the occasion.
After what feels like an eternal road works sign outside Leeds Corn Exchange and Call Lane, Leeds City Council has confirmed that the multi-million pound developments are now complete.
The facelift has included introducing new seating areas, trees and sandstone paving to make the area more attractive, as well as a spot that’s able to welcome nature and act as an accessible area for city commuters, shoppers and visitors with respective interest.
Forming an important part of a public realm scheme and a major package of Connecting Leeds highways improvements, (included as a component of the £173.5 million Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme), we reckon just about everyone in the city centre will be excited to see the removal of the construction and reveal the end product.
As part of the work, new bus, cycle and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure has been put in place in the area around the Corn Exchange, but this also continues across the wider city centre too.
The public realm initiatives have worked in tandem with the construction on Meadow Lane, Cookridge Street and Greek Street, and according to Leeds City Council “underline the council’s commitment to giving Leeds a greener, better connected and more inclusive city centre.”
Marking the occasion this Saturday 14 May 2022, a day of free entertainment and activities suitable for all ages will take place at the new construction-free site outside the Corn Exchange.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:
“The Corn Exchange is one of the jewels in Leeds’s crown and we are so pleased that it now has the high-quality setting that it deserves.
“The creation of the public space and the improvements to local roads will give the area an exciting new lease of life while at the same time encouraging active travel. People-focused infrastructure projects like these will also make our city more investable and help unlock its full commercial potential.
“We are very grateful for the support and patience shown by residents and businesses, including the city’s bus operators, while the work has taken shape.
“Saturday’s celebration event will be a great way to showcase the changes that have been made. It promises to be a real day to remember.”
Nearly 1,750 square metres of public realm has been created outside the Corn Exchange by upgrading two existing pedestrian areas and removing the stretch of Call Lane that runs between New Market Street and Crown Street.
Feature Image- Leeds City Council
