ABSTRACT
Over the last two decades or so the city of Leeds
has undergone a transformation of its urban char-
acter (Figure 11.1). Regions of the city centre, once
semi-derelict and neglected backwaters of past
industrial and commercial use, have been brought
to life with a now vibrant mix of retail, business,
leisure and residential development. Much of this
has been stimulated by the Leeds Development
Corporation, set up by the Government to regener-
ate over 1300 acres of the inner city by bringing
existing land and buildings into effective use to
encourage existing and new commercial and
industrial activity. A significant objective of the
Development Corporation was to achieve this in
ways that would also attract people to live and
work in the inner city by providing housing and
social facilities in an attractive environment.
