Leeds Property & Economic Forum

Complementing the city with ‘out of town’ growth; plus, meeting the skills challenge in the planning industry

The next Property Forum event in Leeds will highlight how important non-city centre developments are to overall growth and balanced economic growth.

While city centres are often referred to as the ‘shop window’ of our main urban and metropolitan areas, having sufficient ‘out of town’ sites for both commercial and residential development is crucial in places like Leeds, Bradford and elsewhere in West Yorkshire. Some of the recent great successes in non-city centre development schemes in the Leeds area will be covered at our next event, along with a new initiative aimed at increasing the pipeline of skills and capacity in the planning industry.

What can we learn from recent schemes? Where is the next great out-of-town project coming from? Is there a negative impact on our city centre to also consider?

As always, there are networking opportunities both before and after the speakers and Q&A. Come along to both learn more about the schemes and take part in the Q&A.

When: Tuesday 11 June 2024, 5-7pm

What: Non-city centre development schemes and their importance in economic growth and business success

Who: Lucinda Yeadon of CEG on Kirkstall Forge; Munroe K’s David Aspin on White Rose Park; Adam Varley from Scarborough Group on Thorpe Park; British Chambers of Commerce on a new national planning skills fund

Where: Deloitte, Leeds city centre

Pen pix

David Aspin

1. David is the owner of Munroe K, having set up the business almost 30 years ago.

2. Munroe K manage a diverse UK retail property portfolio on behalf of major investment partnerships.

3. David will speak to us about White Rose Park, and the challenges and opportunities that brought about, and how it now contributes such a significant part to the local economy and business community.

4. Also, although this event will focus on out-of-town developments in the Leeds area, it’s of slightly wider relevance and interest that Munroe K took on Bradford’s city centre Broadway scheme in 2016, 12 months after it opened; and – as their website can attest – have schemes the length and breadth of the country.

Adam Varley

1. Adam is Development Director with Scarborough Group International.

2. He has been with the real estate developer for 6 years; before that, he spent 16 years with Lambert Smith Hampton.

3. Adam originally trained as a surveyor, and will talk us through how the Thorpe Park scheme first originated and how it eventually got off the ground and, hopefully, provide a few facts and figures on the economic contribution that it makes to the city and wider area.

Lucinda Yeadon

1. Lucinda is the Social Impact Manager and previously Community Liaison Manager with CEG, also known as Commercial Estates Group. She has been with the business for 6 years.

2. Lucinda also has 10 years’ experience as an elected representative on Leeds Council, including roles on the Executive for both the Environment & Sustainability, and also Culture & Skills.

3. Lucinda will tell us about how the changes around the Kirkstall Forge area came into being, and what major issues and factors came up along the way.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Deloitte LLP, 1 City Square, Leeds, United Kingdom