DLA Architecture has secured planning approval, on behalf of its client Metropolitan and District Securities (MDS), to deliver a major new mixed-use scheme at Quarry Hill in Leeds city centre.

St Cecilia Place is a new development on the site of the former Quarry Hill flats that were demolished over 40 years ago. The scheme will comprise 352 build-to-rent (BTR) residential apartments along with amenity spaces and commercial units.

The DLA design approach includes three elegant interlinked tall buildings ranging in height of 19, 20 and 22 storeys with each connected by a pair of eight storey structures. The residential space will offer studios, one bed, two bed and three bed apartments. The ground floor public realm includes two courtyards, communal facilities with cycle storage and a residents car park.

Working alongside ID Planning, DLA secured approval from officers who acknowledged that the scheme delivers efficient use of a prime site and would make a valuable contribution to housing needs in the city as well as job creation.

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St Cecilia Place forms a critical part of the overall development at Quarry Hill which links Playhouse Square in the west to Quarry House in the east. Adjacent developments include the mixed use SOYO scheme, the new Leeds City College building and the redevelopment of West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Sue Sparling, Director at DLA Architecture, said: "We are delighted to secure planning consent for MDS to deliver St Cecilia Place. The development will form the final piece of the wider Quarry Hill masterplan, which is known as the cultural quarter of Leeds and includes Leeds Playhouse, the Northern Ballet and Leeds College of Music Auditorium.

"The site itself is located on St Cecilia Street and through early consultation we established St Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and therefore, it felt appropriate the development should be known as St Cecilia Place.

"Our design approach recognises the historic building fabric and characteristics of the island site whilst also complementing the more recent developments in the area. A significant level of both internal and external amenity space is incorporated with large communal roof gardens creating vibrant spaces with far reaching views of the wider city. The building forms create two south facing landscaped courtyards, along with ecological and visual enhancement of the retained landscape corridor to the north of the site which is part of the wider Leeds Habitat Network."