Clarence Dock (New Dock) in the Yorkshire Evening Post

[Robbo]

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/plan-could-see-leeds-commuters-get-the-boat-to-the-office-1-6432725

 

 

Plan could see Leeds commuters get the boat to the office

How Leeds Dock complex could look

Plans for a major new office complex in Leeds could see commuters travelling to work by boat.

 

Allied London has submitted a planning application to turn the former Alea Casino at the old Clarence Dock complex into a 70,000 sq ft block called The Engine.

Under the proposals the company is in negotiations to introduce “water taxis” to and from the city centre.

It hopes the development, which will also include restaurants and other leisure facilities, will help breathe new life into the struggling area.

According to the planning application, the site’s location makes it ideal for water transport.

It said: “The site is adjacent to the River Aire and there is potential for a Water Taxi service to connect New Dock with Brewery Wharf and Granary Wharf.

“This will offer a direct route between New Dock and the city centre for commuters, visitors and tourists.

“Negotiations are currently proceeding to secure an operator for this service.”

Clarence Dock failed to live up to its pre-launch hype after opening shortly before the financial crash in 2007.

Many of its retail units were never occupied and prices of its upmarket flats have plummeted in the years since.

Allied London rebranded Clarence Dock as New Dock after acquiring the site at the start of 2012.

In a further blow the casino closed the following year, along with restaurants Leeds Kitchen and The Bird.

Last year the company unveiled proposals for new offices, gallery and exhibition facilities and retail and restaurant businesses. It has now renamed the complex Leeds Dock.

The planning application for The Engine was submitted to Leeds City Council last week.

Chief executive Michael Ingall said: “The volume of this property is vast, it really is a super building.”

John Cooper, of Deloitte Real Estate, which prepared the planning application, said it could accommodate up to 5,000 workers.

“Combined with the new water taxi and bus links due to start running in summer, a currently under-utilised area of Leeds is destined to become a thriving business and leisure destination,” he added.

 

 

Edited February 12, 2014 by Robbo

[Guest]

It would be good to see the area get some investment which in turn will hopefully rejuvenate New Dock (I wasn't aware they had changed the name to one that had been used previously).

 

It is rather sad to see so many units laying empty and so many businesses closing in what could be a nice setting. Hopefully the water taxi idea will improve access but I'm not sure once the novelty wears off it's sustainable. They would be better looking at road transport links too which are not brilliant.

[Robbo]

No comment regarding the water taxis. It failed last time as the journey is too short for any kind of transport. Granary to Clarence is around a 10 minute walk, no office commuter is going to go by boat for that journey.

[cereal tiller]

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/plan-could-see-leeds-commuters-get-the-boat-to-the-office-1-6432725

 

 

Has any provision been made for submersible taxi's?

CT

[Robbo]

Has any provision been made for submersible taxi's?

CT

 

What about a "replica" submarine to show children how one works? That'll work...

[Guest]

 

What about a "replica" submarine to show children how one works? That'll work...

 

... er no it didn't.

 

I wonder where the old Kapitan is these days?

[cereal tiller]

 

... er no it didn't.

 

I wonder where the old Kapitan is these days?

Rumoured to be conducting submerge/surface tests in the north sea,results are not yet known!

 

First stage was successful,or so i heard

[luctor et emergo]

Is that a periscope in that picture? Has anybody actually seen Herr kapitan move his boot? Who knows, he maybe hidding in the basin, only surfacing at night, to re-supply...

[bigste]

They had yellow subs in Liverpool and that didn't work. Probably cause they weren't meant to submerge. lol

[Robbo]

 

... er no it didn't.

 

I wonder where the old Kapitan is these days?

 

Blackpool? https://www.facebook.com/sleepadvice.org.uk?fref=ts

[Guest]

 

Blackpool? https://www.facebook.com/sleepadvice.org.uk?fref=ts

 

What happened to the boat do we know?

[Grace and Favour]

I'd heard that Herr K had moved his craft to the far eastern end of the Northern Waterways, and was looking to sell it to someone Grimsby way (?)

[Guest]

I'd heard that Herr K had moved his craft to the far eastern end of the Northern Waterways, and was looking to sell it to someone Grimsby way (?)

 

Never saw him pass.

 

Maybe he was submerged...

[cereal tiller]

They had yellow subs in Liverpool and that didn't work. Probably cause they weren't meant to submerge. lol

They were fine craft,had they been equipped with a snorkel air intake for the engine and scuba diving apparatus for the passengers they would have become a major tourist attraction!

 

CT

[RichardH]

They launched a water bus a few years ago with huge fanfares of trumpets. It lasted about 5 minutes.

 

As Robbo says who is going to faff around with a water taxi to travel to work when it is such a short walk.

[pearley]

They were fine craft,had they been equipped with a snorkel air intake for the engine and scuba diving apparatus for the passengers they would have become a major tourist attraction!

 

CT

They've still one here moored on the other side of the dock. A floating hotel.

[DeanS]

The trip by water between Clarence Dock and Granary is quite nice ..and is about a 25min walk as there is no real towpath route the whole way. It's true the walk into the CBD is only 10mins. It will come down to price if they want to make it a success. 50p a trip or something for local residents.

 

Hope this doesnt mean the 4 visitor moorings will be taken over with taxis.

 

The area needs 10 nice food courts, a cinema complex, 10pin bowling , and an acoustic open stage on weekends to attract people to gather in the area and spend their cash. Even the dragon boat racing is poorly attended, so they have their work cut out to attract folk on a permanent basis.

[BEngo]

They launched a water bus a few years ago with huge fanfares of trumpets. It lasted about 5 minutes.

 

As Robbo says who is going to faff around with a water taxi to travel to work when it is such a short walk.

 

 

No true Yorkshireman would pay for a water bus/taxi when he could walk for nowt.

 

 

Politicians still seem to believe their own bullshit though.

 

 

N

[Robbo]

The trip by water between Clarence Dock and Granary is quite nice ..and is about a 25min walk as there is no real towpath route the whole way. It's true the walk into the CBD is only 10mins. It will come down to price if they want to make it a success. 50p a trip or something for local residents.

 

Hope this doesnt mean the 4 visitor moorings will be taken over with taxis.

 

The area needs 10 nice food courts, a cinema complex, 10pin bowling , and an acoustic open stage on weekends to attract people to gather in the area and spend their cash. Even the dragon boat racing is poorly attended, so they have their work cut out to attract folk on a permanent basis.

 

 

Okay so it's about a 16min walk according to Google 50p won't be enough to cover the costs (unless subsidised), as if full thats only £6 per trip (max of 12 people). Turn around time is around half an hour. Many office workers that travel use the local metro card, which is a weekly/monthly/yearly card for bus and train travel in West Yorkshire, they won't want to pay extra for a 15minute walk, especially when the boat will take that long anyhow.

 

The boat trips do work for tourists, they had a tour bus/boat ticket the other year.

[DeanS]

 

 

Okay so it's about a 16min walk according to Google 50p won't be enough to cover the costs (unless subsidised), as if full thats only £6 per trip (max of 12 people). Turn around time is around half an hour. Many office workers that travel use the local metro card, which is a weekly/monthly/yearly card for bus and train travel in West Yorkshire, they won't want to pay extra for a 15minute walk, especially when the boat will take that long anyhow.

 

The boat trips do work for tourists, they had a tour bus/boat ticket the other year.

 

Yup. I do agree. And turning boats around at the bottom of Granary Wharf lock, is tricky....wouldn't want to see taxi boats doing it....in a strong flow.

[pete.i]

Don't worry nothing will be improved anywhere up north. David Cameron has said that all the money will be allocated for the southern floods. In his own words "Money is no object."

[Robbo]

 

Yup. I do agree. And turning boats around at the bottom of Granary Wharf lock, is tricky....wouldn't want to see taxi boats doing it....in a strong flow.

 

The pick up / drop off area is just past the lock on the river (as it bends right) on the left. It's actually not bad as the river helps you turn around. The lock area is bad when in strong flow as the water is swirling around here.

[luctor et emergo]

 

Blackpool? https://www.facebook.com/sleepadvice.org.uk?fref=ts

Just had a look at that, he really is a thoroughly nasty piece ...

[Grace and Favour]

Just had a look at that, he really is a thoroughly nasty piece ...

Oh yes

[Robbo]

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/video-leeds-dock-set-to-make-a-big-splash-1-6445717

 

 

Video: Leeds Dock set to make a big splash

 

It’s the missing piece of the Leeds city centre jigsaw puzzle and now after years of decline, the renamed Leeds Dock could be about to have its day.

 

It sounds almost too good to be true. A new shuttle bus service for the centre of Leeds connecting to Clarence Dock, water taxis ferrying customers, several major firms already signed up to move into The Engine (the building formerly occupied by Alea Casino) and two new colleges for the South Bank area.

But it all could happen and some of the plans are well under way.

 

Would water taxis and a cheap or free bus service encourage you to visit Leeds Dock more? Click here to register and have your say on the stories and issues that matter to you

 

Allied London, the firm which owns the 1.2m sq ft site, has told the Yorkshire Evening Post it is already in talks with a bus company to run the new shuttle bus service and two routes have already been agreed.

In addition to that, water taxis brought over specially from Holland will begin operating in June or July.
Michael Ingall, managing director of Allied London, is cautiously optimistic about the plans.

“I think there’s still quite a lot of momentum that needs to gather down there. It’s quite easy at this stage of any recovery, particularly in the property market, to get ahead of ourselves and I don’t want people to do that.

“The big thing for the South Bank is nothing is going to happen without the infrastructure. Schemes like Trinity, the Hammerson development on Eastgate [which will see John Lewis move to the city] and Leeds Arena are obvious choices for investors, because they’re in the centre but developers are less convinced about places on the edge, so what is needed is money. All the talking needs to be converted into cash.

“The reason we were so successful in Manchester was we pioneered the free bus, we funded 30 per cent of that.

“The people we spoke to on the local authority over there understood the power of infrastructure and since that was introduced it’s generated £30m in rates. We could do it in Leeds.

“We are forging ahead with our own plans, we are in talks with First about laying on a bus service which I think to begin with will be subsidised but will be along the same lines as the one in Manchester. We have two routes already planned.

“You can build a place but if people can’t get to it, it will always fail and if they don’t get the infrastructure in place, we’ll be back here in 15 years talking about how desolate it is down there.

Commenting on plans to turn the former Alea Casino building into a bustling new corporate centre, he said: “The casino idea didn’t work but that building is going to be the first super-building in Leeds and we are already in talks with companies who want to move into it, big corporates who want an office environment with amenities for staff.

“We’re still on course to do what we said and launch in the summer - there will be a series of water-based events including a theatre and opera on water and we are going to create an outdoor cinema.

“We’re moving ahead but at the moment we’re rowing the boat on our own.”

Commenting on rumours BSkyB were interested in moving into The Engine, a spokeswoman for the company said: “We are a growing business with several operations in Leeds and continue to review opportunities to consolidate our teams but have no confirmed plans at this stage.”
Architect David Lumb, from Leeds Sustainable Development Group, said: “Investors are looking to invest. That’s where Allied London have been very brave but they have experience of doing this elsewhere. It’s a mountain they have to climb but they are climbing it.”

A First spokesman said: “As the leading bus operator in Leeds, First welcomes the opportunity to play our part in the transport planning around the New Dock development.

“We have experience operating local shuttle services and providing route connections around new developments in major towns and cities.

“First are working with developers to look at the best options to give customers reliable and convenient bus services to this important development in Leeds.”

 

The bright history and future of Leeds Dock

Historically, Clarence Dock was used by barges to unload goods, mainly coal, from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Aire and Calder Navigation.

In 2001, it was part of a £250m regeneration project including the prestigious Royal Armouries but the development suffered for years from a lack of interest and low footfall.

When London Clubs International executive director Roy Ramm said in 2001: “Clarence Dock feels like a forgotten part of the city at the moment - the only thing that’s missing here is the tumbleweed”, he was not the first.

Clarence Dock was bought in January 2011 by property developer Allied London.

They planned to take the 1.2m sqft scheme to new heights and unveiled a masterplan for the troubled district, with ambitions to create a water village, landmark buildings, a green space and a workspace hub by 2014.

The plans also included a public space which could be used for concerts, comedy performances, theatre and art displays.

Dr Kevin Grady, director of Leeds Civic Trust, welcomed the plans: “To be successful, Clarence Dock needs to have a lot of people there during the day, so transforming the old Alea building is a great idea. It’s good news for retailers, cafes and restaurants. Allied London have experience in buying distressed retail space and re-animating it. They have some creative ideas about how to do that.

“It’s failed in the past because it has lacked the critical mass of buildings in the surrounding area but now we have Leeds City College in the former print works on Hunslet Road and the College of Building, there will be lots of students very close to the dock. Life coming to the surround area will almost enable the dock to become what it has always wanted to be.

“Another factor which has hindered it was that by the time it got itself up and running, the recession hit and because it has lacked good transport links, parking is difficult or expensive, it has struggled. Now the climate has changed and we’re starting to see renewed interest from investors.”

Edited February 18, 2014 by Robbo