Leeds tower axed by council

The Lumiere residential tower scheme was mothballed earlier this month

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Leeds City Council has torn up an agreement with developer Simons that would have seen the firm build the city's tallest tower.

Simons had been working with architect Ian Simpson on designs for its 47 and 29 storey Criterion Place twin tower scheme at Sovereign Street to the south of the city centre.

But having failed to submit a planning application during the time, the council has now canned the deal.

Simons had proposed a smaller scheme for the site but yesterday afternoon (16 July) the council's executive knocked this proposal back and will now look at other options for the site

A Leeds City Council spokesman said: "It is now more than four years since the original offer and scheme proposals were submitted by Simons for approval and the company was selected as the preferred developers for the Sovereign Street site.

"The revised proposal received from Simons represents a significant departure from the original, the Council has, therefore, decided not to accept this offer and terminate the contract.

"We will consider all our future options for the site, and in the meantime will retain it and continue to use it for car parking."