Criterion Place

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Criterion Place is a proposed skyscraper development in Leeds, England.

[edit] Background

The site that is surrounded by Neville Street, Sovereign Street, Swinegate and Leeds City railway station was home to the Queens Hall a venue that formerly hosted events such as exhibitions, flea markets and concerts that was demolished in the 1980s. Since demolition the site was used as a surface level car park. Early proposals for development on the site had included in 1994 for plans for an office building designed by Norman Foster of about 60m - 70m in height to house Royal London Insurance. This development however did not go ahead but some small scale development on part of the car park was developed in recent years which included an office building for British Telecom and construction of a multi-storey car park with a restaurant on the ground floor.

[edit] Current Proposals

In 2004 proposals were unveiled for large scale development on the site. This was originally from a competition by Leeds City Council for the development for the site that included plans of a 32 storey tower by Rushbond & DLA Architects and another proposal for a 22 storey tower by DTR:UK. These two proposals had lost out to a twin tower scheme by Ian Simpson to be developed by Simons Estates which had proposed a scheme comprising of two glass towers of 47 storeys (160 m) and 29 storeys (105 m). This proposal proposes 326 apartments, offices and a 186 room hotel that is expected to cost £115,000,000. Currently the start of the development is uncertain but is expected to start in 2007 or 2008.