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Leeds Dock, Leeds - Allied London, Leeds City Council

Allied London bought what was then known as Clarence Dock in 2012, rebranding to create Leeds’ first tech, media and creative industries hub: Leeds Dock. The placemaking strategy has established Leeds Dock as a key destination in the city for enterprise, community and culture. The contemporary creative workspaces are complemented by independent food and drink operators, a yoga studio, a progressive gym and the Royal Armouries Museum. Leeds Dock is proud to be home of eleven digital and tech

 

Allied London has achieved its vision by developing a city centre village and new community for the media, technology and the creative industries. Committed to building on these successes and driving the future of Leeds Dock, the creative and media community will grow as our new spaces are created, which include floating workspace boats, an events platform on the water, and a new life for the buildings with untapped potential.

 

 

Who comes to this place and how does it serve their needs?

 

Leeds Dock has become a lifestyle, work, and cultural hub thanks to the mix of offices, restaurants, bars, cafes, event spaces, supermarket (Tesco), and a museum (The Royal Armouries Museum), that call it home. Because of this, Leeds Dock gets visitors of all kinds on a daily basis as it has something for everyone. Office tenants in the Dock are from a number of industries - from digital marketing and PR to environmental services and even Sky, which alone occupies three major buildings at the Dock, hosting 350 staff.

 

Leeds Dock regularly invites art and culture, with murals from artist Benjamin Craven to seasonal pop ups and more. Plus, for those who want to take to the water, the two on- site Water Taxis transport visitors up the canal, between Leeds Dock and Granary Wharf for just £1 pp per ride. The result is a well-fostered community of businesses, residents and visitors living in harmony at Leeds Dock.

 

 

How are you continuing to adapt and manage this place, particularly in the context of changing demographics, transport habits, climate crisis and shifting policy?

 

Allied continue to manage Leeds Dock with an innate sensitivity and receptiveness to the local area. We run water taxis as a sustainable and local, as well as unique and appealing mode of transport. We also seek to balance the needs of the residents of Leeds Dock, which is a delicate equilibrium of hospitality offerings and a sense of tranquillity, along with attracting business to add value to Leeds Dock as well as the wider local economy. This incorporates attracting corporate businesses like Sky to Leeds Dock, as well as the smaller independent businesses like North Star Coffee.

 

 

What the judges said

 

The judges were impressed with how this formerly failing place has been turned around through clever interventions on the ground floors and with happenings, such as the £1 water taxi. They liked how this place was now enabling a new relationship to the water in the wider neighbourhood

Completed Place winner 2020

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  • Early bird entry deadline: 15 December 2023

  • Final entry deadline: 25 January 2024

  • Festival of Pineapples: 15-19 April 2024

  • Awards party, London: May 2024

     

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