Scarborough Development Group reveal new plans for Thorpe Park, Leeds28th June 2012

Scarborough Development Group, the property development and investment arm of Scarborough Group International, has unveiled extensive new plans for the next phase of development at its 157 acre Thorpe Park, at Junction 46 of the M1 in East Leeds.

Planning permission is already in place for over 1.8 million sq ft of office space, with just under 600,000 sq ft having been completed to date. The new mixed use proposal is designed to meet the changing needs of business occupiers, with accommodation for up to 6,500 new jobs, as well as providing a valuable hub for local communities in east Leeds.

New plans for the business park, maintain the level of business space remaining under the existing consent, circa 1.2 million sq ft, while introducing additional uses to support the working environment, provide a greater diversity of employment opportunities, and kick-start the next phases of development.

The plans comprise:

• 1,200,000 sq ft of high-quality flexible offices to suit a wide variety of businesses 
• a 130,000 sq ft food store
• 177,000 sq ft of leisure space including hotels and sports facilities
• 33,000 sq ft of cafes, bars, restaurants
• 100,000 sq ft of additional retail

The project will also bring forward the delivery of Green Park, a 113 acre public park adjacent to Thorpe Park, and Leeds’ first significant new public park in over 100 years. Proposals for Green Park include sports pitches and leisure facilities, alongside formal landscapes and informal spaces.

Thorpe Park will also feature its own generous green spaces, with the new masterplan being arranged around 25 acres of formal parkland and open space which runs through the scheme linking Green Park in the west and Brown Moor to the east.

Once the application is granted consent, Scarborough is also proposing to bring forward the early delivery of the Manston Land Link Road, a new and strategically significant route between Junction 46 of the M1 and the communities north of the Leeds to York railway. This route will alleviate traffic pressure on local roads and provide new public transport opportunities for Thorpe Park and the adjacent area.

Tenants in the already completed office space at Thorpe Park include IBM, National Grid, GE Capital, Vinci, BAM, Regus and United Utilities.

Commenting on the plans, Mark Jackson, Managing Director of Scarborough Development Group said: “Since development at Thorpe Park started in the mid 1990s the requirements of business occupiers have evolved significantly. Modern companies and their staff now demand more convenience to support their working lives, more amenities and facilities on hand, and greater sustainability especially in how they travel to their place of work. We need to meet these new demands with a bright and comprehensive response, particularly given the tough economic conditions."

The proposed plans will be presented at a series of public exhibitions in Leeds over the next few weeks.