Trinity Leeds

Trinity Leeds is a large shopping and leisure centre in central Leeds, England. It takes its name from the neighbouring Holy Trinity Church, an eighteenth-century landmark, and was created through the combination of a new development known as Trinity East and the redevelopment of the former Leeds Shopping Plaza as Trinity West. Together, the two parts form a major retail destination integrated into the city-centre streets around Briggate, Albion Street, Boar Lane and Lower Basinghall Street. The centre was developed by Land Securities and designed by Chapman Taylor. It opened to the public on 21 March 2013, recording more than 130,000 visitors on its first day. Its approximately 93,000 square metres of retail space accommodates about 120 stores and is anchored by major large-format retailers including Marks & Spencer, Primark and the expanded Topshop and Topman units that were incorporated into the scheme. The development also includes Trinity Kitchen, a food concept that combines permanent restaurant operators with changing pop-up vendors, giving the centre a more flexible dining offer than a conventional enclosed mall. Leisure uses are an important part of the destination proposition. Everyman Cinemas opened a four-screen, approximately 3,700-square-metre art-house cinema at Trinity Leeds, its first venue in northern England. The centre also uses public art and architectural features to connect the development with Leeds's commercial and textile heritage. A large glass dome forms the visual centrepiece of Trinity East, while Andy Scott's Equus Altus sculpture depicts a packhorse carrying cloth. The Briggate Minerva sculpture references commerce, weaving and the city's historic textile economy, and a gilded bronze owl by Antonia Stowe is positioned near the roofline. The project replaced and consolidated several earlier retail developments. Trinity and Burton Arcades, dating from the 1970s, occupied much of the Trinity East site. Trinity West evolved from Leeds Shopping Plaza, which had originally opened in 1977 as the Bond Street Centre and had been refurbished in the 1990s. Redevelopment plans had circulated since approximately 2000 but were held up by ownership and planning complications involving the different owners of the relevant sites. The acquisition of Topps Estates by Land Securities, changes involving the Caddick Group, and a compulsory purchase order granted by Leeds City Council helped clear the way for construction. Preparation included substantial demolition and site clearance. Work was completed on the cleared site by 2008, but the wider development was delayed by the Great Recession before restarting in 2010. More than 1,000 construction workers were estimated to have been involved during the build. The centre's catchment has been described as approximately 5.5 million people, with an annual retail spending potential of about £1.93 billion in the surrounding market. The completed scheme was credited with strengthening Leeds's position in UK retail rankings and creating more than 3,000 jobs. Trinity Leeds remains a prominent component of the city's retail, dining and leisure economy.

Trinity Leeds developed from a long-running attempt to modernise a group of ageing retail sites in the centre of Leeds. The Trinity and Burton Arcades, which occupied much of the eventual Trinity East site, had opened in the 1970s and included both covered and open-air areas. The other major component was Leeds Shopping Plaza, itself descended from the Bond Street Centre, which opened in 1977 on a site formerly occupied by Victorian buildings. The Bond Street Centre was refurbished in 1996 and adopted the Leeds Shopping Plaza identity. Plans to redevelop the Trinity and Burton Arcades began circulating around 2000. Early proposals were associated with the name Trinity Quarter and included designs by the late architect Enric Miralles. Progress was obstructed by disagreements over planning and ownership. The Trinity and Burton Arcades and Leeds Shopping Plaza were controlled by different interests, making it difficult to assemble and coordinate the land required for a single scheme. A significant change occurred when Land Securities acquired Topps Estates in 2003. Ownership of the Trinity and Burton Arcades later changed to the Caddick Group, while Leeds City Council granted a compulsory purchase order that helped resolve remaining site-assembly problems. The eventual project was divided into Trinity East, a new-build section on the former arcade site, and Trinity West, the remodelled Leeds Shopping Plaza. Demolition and preparation affected the previous buildings and frontages along Briggate, Albion Street and Boar Lane. Site clearance was complete by 2008, but the financial conditions associated with the Great Recession delayed the development. Construction resumed in 2010, with Laing O'Rourke involved as contractor. More than 1,000 construction workers were estimated to have worked on the project. Construction began with Trinity East, where four tower cranes were used. One of the most prominent architectural elements was a large glass dome designed by SKM Anthony Hunts. Its steel structure supports 1902 glass panels and rises approximately 30.5 metres above street level. During construction the dome was carried by a substantial temporary scaffold; when that support was removed in early 2012, the structure sank by approximately 20 millimetres. The redevelopment of the Topshop and Topman store began in February 2012 after the retailers temporarily moved elsewhere in Leeds, and the enlarged and remodelled store was completed in October of that year. Work on Trinity West began in earnest in 2011. The interior was remodelled, exterior cladding was removed, and the former Boar Lane bus point was closed to enable changes to the pavement and surrounding public realm. The project also included upward extensions to accommodate a large Primark store and proposals for an external media screen. The combined centre opened on 21 March 2013. It brought together around 93,000 square metres of retail space and approximately 120 stores, with Marks & Spencer and the expanded Topshop and Topman units among the principal anchors. Trinity Leeds was designed as more than a conventional shopping centre. Trinity Kitchen introduced a food hall-style concept with both long-term tenants and rotating pop-up vendors. Everyman Cinemas added a four-screen art-house venue, described as the company's first premises in northern England. The development also established a public-art programme. Andy Scott's Equus Altus, a large packhorse carrying a roll of cloth, evokes the role of packhorses in Leeds's historic wool and textile trade. The Briggate Minerva refers to commerce and weaving, while an owl sculpture by Antonia Stowe adds another visual marker near the centre's roofline. Together, these features connect the modern development with the city's older commercial identity. The opening generated more than 130,000 visits in one day. The completed centre has been associated with a catchment of approximately 5.5 million people and annual spending potential of about £1.93 billion. It was also credited with improving Leeds's standing in UK retail rankings and creating more than 3,000 jobs. Trinity Leeds subsequently became one of the defining retail and leisure destinations in Leeds city centre.

• 2013

  Trinity Leeds opens

  [1]Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org

  The combined Trinity East and Trinity West centre opened on 21 March, attracting more than 130,000 visitors on its first day.

• 2012

  Topshop and Topman redevelopment is completed

  [1]Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org

  The expanded and remodelled Topshop and Topman store was completed after temporary relocations during construction.

• 2010

  Construction recommences

  [1]Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org

  After a delay associated with the Great Recession, construction resumed on the Trinity Leeds scheme.

• 2008

  Initial site clearance is completed

  [1]Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition and preparatory work for the new centre had cleared the principal development site.

• 2003

  Land Securities acquires Topps Estates

  [1]Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org

  Land Securities' acquisition of Topps Estates helped advance the assembly of interests needed for the redevelopment.

• 1996

  Bond Street Centre is refurbished

  [1]Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org

  A major refurbishment expanded the trading area and helped establish the Leeds Shopping Plaza identity.

• 1977

  Bond Street Centre opens

  [1]Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org

  The retail complex that later became Leeds Shopping Plaza opened as the Bond Street Centre.

• 1973

  Trinity and Burton Arcades open

  [1]Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org

  The 1970s Trinity and Burton Arcades opened on the site later redeveloped as Trinity East.

A large, centrally located urban shopping and leisure destination that combines mainstream retail anchors with food, entertainment, architectural spectacle and public art.

• Retail destination · 2013

  Trinity Leeds retail stores

  The centre provides approximately 93,000 square metres of retail space across around 120 stores. Its tenant mix is led by major fashion, department-store and general merchandise operators, including Marks & Spencer, Primark and the expanded Topshop and Topman stores. The offer is designed for a broad regional catchment rather than a narrow luxury segment.

• Food and dining · 2013

  Trinity Kitchen

  Trinity Kitchen is the centre's flexible food concept. It combines permanent food and beverage tenants with rotating pop-up vendors, allowing the dining offer to change over time and encouraging repeat visits. The format forms a central part of Trinity Leeds's positioning as a leisure destination as well as a shopping centre.

• Cinema and leisure · 2013

  Everyman Cinema

  Everyman opened a four-screen, approximately 3,700-square-metre art-house cinema at Trinity Leeds. The venue expanded the centre's evening and cultural offer and represented Everyman's first premises in northern England at the time of opening.

• Public art · 2013

  Trinity Leeds public art programme

  The centre incorporates permanent and public art intended to connect the modern development with Leeds's history. Key works include Andy Scott's Equus Altus, a large packhorse sculpture associated with the city's cloth trade, and The Briggate Minerva, which references commerce and weaving. A gilded bronze owl by Antonia Stowe is positioned near the roofline.

• 20112.8 Days Later

  Leeds · United Kingdom

  Trinity Leeds worked with local production companies and Everyman Cinemas on the 2.8 Days Later film project, an arts and film initiative associated with the development's programme of public activity.

  Outcome. The project formed part of the centre's effort to establish cultural and public-art activity during its development phase.

  Source

• 2013

  Launch of Trinity Kitchen and the wider leisure offerProduct launch

  Background

  The development sought to distinguish itself from a conventional shopping mall by adding food, entertainment and cultural programming.

  Action taken

  Trinity Leeds opened Trinity Kitchen with permanent and rotating food vendors and added an Everyman four-screen art-house cinema.

  Aftermath

  The centre opened as a mixed retail and leisure destination with a wider visitor proposition and strong initial footfall.

  Source

• 2010

  Restarting the Trinity Leeds redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The redevelopment had been delayed after site clearance because of the economic conditions surrounding the Great Recession.

  Action taken

  Construction restarted in 2010, proceeding with the two-part Trinity East and Trinity West scheme.

  Aftermath

  The project was completed and opened in 2013 as a combined retail, dining and leisure destination.

  Source

1. 1Trinity Leedsen.wikipedia.org