City Centre

Housing in the City Centre has transformed both itself and the nature of the City in the last twenty years. Then the City was haemorrhaging its residents to the suburbs leaving areas of housing blight intermixed with underused or unused industrial and commercial quarters. The idea of City Living in converted factories mills and riverside buildings that originated in New York and transferred across the Atlantic via London was the saviour of residential life within the City Centre and has caused an immense regeneration not only of the buildings that have been converted into housing but also the areas around them that provide the social glue that holds together City Living society.

That society has created a cafe culture with a huge range and number of bars restaurants cafes clubs and pubs, together with small bistro shops and convenience stores. This social change went hand in glove with the immense growth in Leeds as the second financial centre in the UK and its efforts to change itself into a 24 Hour city. It has resulted in one if the most vibrant and affluent cities in Europe and boasts colourful arts and entertainment scenes together with internationally renowned shopping malls and galleries together with historic features such as the Leeds Arcades and the Victorian covered Market.

Housing in the City Centre can be in brand new modern minimalist apartments, new loft style units, loft style conversions, traditionally styled conversions or new build units. The intermix of social housing within new developments means a slightly wider social mix and the use of some of the earlier conversions around the Market for Student Accommodation means the residents of the centre are a healthy blend of individuals.