The Headrow, Leeds

The Headrow is the main street in Leeds City Centre, West Yorkshire, England.

This street flows across Leeds City Centre between Westgate and Eastgate and is approximately 700 metres (½ mile) long. The Headrow was widened between 1928 and 1932 with the redevelopment designed by the architect Reginald Blomfield primarily as a way of improving traffic flow through Leeds City Centre.

The Past

Developments had included the construction of Permanent House, the headquarters of the Leeds Permanent Building Society, Lewis's department store and the Odeon Cinema which was originally opened as the Paramount Theatre. The redevelopment is noticeable for being designed in a uniform neo-baroque style which is similar to the better known Regent Street in London that was also designed by Reginald Blomfield. However there are differences in that the cladding is a mixture of Red Brick and Portland Stone as opposed to the Portland Stone only that is seen on Regent Street. Also the development as it was a road widening scheme had meant only one side of The Headrow has been constructed in this uniform style with the other side comprising of a mixture of buildings from the 1800s to the present.

The Present

Today the street is used for a variety of means including the former Permanent House which is now known as The Light which is an entertainment complex including a Radisson SAS Hotel, Vue Cinema and numerous shops and restaurants, offices at Direct Line House (originally known as Headrow House and constructed in the early 1950s) with ground floor retail and the headquarters of Leeds Building Society (unconnected from Leeds Permanent which was bought by the Halifax in 1995). Also there is the The Headrow Centre a shopping centre which was formerly Schofields department store and Lewis's which became Allders in 1996 is currently empty due to the collapse of that latter company in 2005 but is currently in process of conversion into several retail units including Sainsbury's and TK Maxx with offices and apartments on upper floors. Also the former Odeon is now home to Primark. Outside of the area which was reconstructed by Blomfield attractions on The Headrow include Leeds Town Hall, Leeds City Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum and The Henry Moore Institute. The area is extensively pedestrianised and has an advisory speed limit of 15 mph. The section between Park Row and Briggate is also reserved for buses only and cars are not permitted to use

The Future

Future developments on The Headrow include Eastgate Quarters a shopping centre to the East of The Headrow that is expected to open in 2011 which will include a John Lewis department store, over 100 new shops, bars and restaurants, cinemas, a gym, offices and flats.

Cavendish House, adjacent to The Headrow Centre has been reclad and rebranded as Basillica. The tower comprises apartments and offices, while the podium is home to PC World, a name usually to be found on out of town retail parks.

The former Allders building, or for much of its time occupied by Lewis's is currently being redeveloped under the brand "Broadgate". It is currently being split into 4 retail units, offices and apartments. It has been confirmed that the units will be occupied by Sainsbury's, Argos and TKMaxx with one remaining unit.

The Headrow Centre is currently in process of being refurbished to become known as The Core which is expected to be complete for 2009.

Dortmund Square

In 1980, the area between Headrow House and Lewis store was converted to Dortmund Square. To celebrate the 10 years of twinning the people of Dortmund presented the people of Leeds the bronze statue, sculpted by Arthur Shulze-Engels, of the Dortmund Drayman which now stands in the square.

External links

* [http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/default.asp?document=3.G.3 Looking at Buildings - The Headrow]
* [http://www.leeds.gov.uk/discover/discovery.asp?page=20031028_930446804 Discovering Leeds - The Headrow]