Holbeck in the running for a potential ‘game-changing’ investment in the area

A multi-million-pound proposal for regeneration of the centre of Holbeck is currently being developed by Leeds City Council and Holbeck Together for submission to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The bid will include significant investment into improving buildings and outdoor spaces in and around St Matthews Community Centre and Domestic Street.

A public consultation has now gone live online where you can browse the proposals and share your thoughts and comments.

Click here to review the proposals and share your comments.

If you would prefer to pop by and view the proposals or don’t have internet access the Council and Holbeck Together team will be available at the following dates and times to discuss the proposals and capture your feedback.

• Tuesday 14th June – 10am – 3pm at St Matthews Community Centre
• Weds 15th June – 10am – 1pm – Ingram Court sheltered accommodation, Ingram Gardens
• Thurs 16th June 10am – 3pm – St Matthews Community Centre
• Fri 17th 11am – 2pm – St Matthews Community Centre

The ‘Heart of Holbeck’ proposals could include funding to enable:

• Physical repair and improvement works to St Matthews Community Centre.
• Renovation of the interior of Holbeck Together’s current office space – The Old Box Office – to extend the space available for the community to use and repurpose its existing use. 

The rest of the bid will be asking for investment from the Levelling Up Fund to support:

• Major environmental improvements to Holbeck Moor such as new play equipment and skate park, better pedestrian links and routes, a community event space, and major new planting.
• Improvements on many of the local streets to add more street greenery and pocket parks and create a better pedestrian environment.
• Revitalisation of the local centre along Domestic Street to create more space for pedestrians.
• Potentially extending previous successful group repair projects to back-to-back housing streets to improve their energy efficency.

These projects have been specifically identified through ongoing consultation with the community through initiatives such as the Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan where people highlighted key areas for improvement.

The Pandemic has also highlighted the importance of having a central community facility. St Matthews enabled the community to have a hub from which to support each other with food parcels, vaccinations, work and employment advice. Investing in the development of specific buildings will mean that Holbeck Together and other community groups can utilise more space and increase their services to the community.

The plans are being backed by Hilary Benn MP and local Councillors. They are currently working collaboratively with Holbeck Together to build wider support from local people, local businesses and other partners.

Elissa Newman, Chief Officer, Holbeck Together has called the ideas for regeneration being explored in this bid as a potential ‘game-changer’ for people living and working in the local area.

“Holbeck has a rich history shaped by the people who have lived and worked in the area. It’s a history brimming with pride, entrepreneurship and success.

The Levelling Up agenda set out by the Government is about creating equality of opportunity across communities in the UK. It’s about giving everyone the chance to flourish. It means people everywhere living longer and more fulfilling lives, and benefitting from sustained rises in living standards and well-being.

We’ve been a part of the community for 30 years. We are proud to be a community anchor – responding to and supporting the changing needs and situations that our community experience. We feel fortunate to have been approached to work in partnership with the Council to contribute to and build the ideas for the area and we want to make sure the communities’ opinions are captured and included.

This bid could make a significant visible difference to the Holbeck area – restoring spaces and creating wider opportunities.

We are hopeful that these ideas will lead to an official bid submission in July with further news about whether it has been successful later in the year.”