Consultation launched over improvements to five West Leeds parks ahead of £20m ‘levelling up’ bid

West Leeds residents can have their say on improvements to five parks as part of a £20 million council bid to the government’s ‘levelling up’ fund.

The proposed bid centres around the Leeds West parliamentary constituency and is called ‘Green, Healthy and Connected’. It proposes improvements to Armley, Bramley Falls, Kirkstall Abbey Park, Stanningley and Wortley’s Western Flatts parks.

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund invests in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

As well as investments to parks themselves, the bid features better pedestrian and cycle links between the parks.

West Leeds residents are being encouraged to have their say on the initial proposals and help shape the schemes.

A website with full details of the proposals can be found here and a consultation event is being held at Kirkstall Deli Market today (Sunday).

Here is what the bid could mean for each park:

Armley Park

The proposals for Armley Park focus on activities including court sports, play, youth facilities with broader landscape and infrastructure improvements. 

• Other proposals include the installation of trim trail equipment.
• A new pavilion could be installed in place of the existing skate park to encourage live performance in a formal setting.
• Steps within the northern part of the park will be improved, including tidying around the ‘killer steps’ area, and other repairs around the park.
• Existing tennis courts to be repainted with new nets and fencing.
• The old tennis court will be transformed into a multi-use area containing a concrete skate park, multi-use goal ends roller-skating facility.
• Replacement of end of life trees and the planting of new cherry trees, creating avenues throughout the park.
• Both park entrances to be enhanced to make it feel more welcoming. 
• New planting and artwork.

More details and have your say on the Armley Park proposals here.

Bramley Fall Park

The proposals for Bramley Fall Park consist of improvements to the play provision and broader landscape and infrastructure enhancements. 

• Existing play area to be removed and extended to include play provision for toddlers, juniors and teens. New picnic tables to be added.
• New wildflower area and tree planting proposed to enhance the long views through the park and add biodiversity. Picnic benches will offer rest areas and the opportunity to meet family and friends.
• New seasonal bulb planting along the main road to enhance the view of the park.
• Bridleway surface to be scraped and topped up where necessary.
• Tree planting scattered around the green space. 
• Route to the station to be formalised with new signage and footpath surfacing.
• Car park to be fully repaired and resurfaced. Existing metal fencing to be repainted, new welcome sign and map of park installed along with new entrance barriers to make it feel more welcoming for visitors.
• Parking to the side of Pollard Lane to be surfaced and formalised. 

More details and have your say on the Bramley Fall Park proposals here.

Kirkstall Abbey Park

• Woodland planting and wildflower will help increase the biodiversity.
• Play area to be extended to include play opportunities for all ages and abilities. Including some bespoke and more imaginative play items as well as interactive digital play. More seating and picnic tables to be added.
• New performance and learning space to be created in old bowling green, which contains amphitheatre and stage for events and activities.
• The walled garden and paths to be repaired and repainted with low maintenance, high impact planting. 
• Renewed gardens.
• Reinforced grass parking will offer some overspill parking from the main car park Abbey House Museum during busy times but still retaining the look of the large open grassed space when not in use and reducing the impact of parking on Vesper Lane.
• Footpath upgrades to include some widening and new surfacing.
• Woodland planting and wildflower will help increase the biodiversity.
• Play area to be extended to include play opportunities for all ages and abilities. Including some bespoke and more imaginative play items as well as interactive digital play. More seating and picnic tables to be added.
• New performance and learning space to be created in old bowling green, which contains amphitheatre and stage for events and activities.
• The walled garden and paths to be repaired and repainted with low maintenance, high impact planting. 
• Renewed gardens.
• Reinforced grass parking will offer some overspill parking from the main car park Abbey House Museum during busy times but still retaining the look of the large open grassed space when not in use and reducing the impact of parking on Vesper Lane.
• Footpath upgrades to include some widening and new surfacing.

Have your say on the Kirkstall Abbey proposals here.

Stanningley Park

• Installation of trim trail equipment around the park.
• Existing all weather pitch to be reduced in size and a purpose built MUGA installed with full fencing around an multi goal ends.
• Introduction of laser cut screens within the garden area and a sculpture trail throughout the park.

• Groups of standard tree planting scattered around the green space.
• New wildflower area with accessible picnic tables.
• The old toddler area is to be relocated to the site of the existing all-weather pitch and a new bespoke skate park and teen area to be created in its place.
• New signage and artwork at the main entrance.
• New accessible ramp into the entrance of the park.
• New footpath between the rugby pitch and teen play area.
• Car park resurfaced with new marked bays including disabled bays.
• Rose garden area reduced in size and replanted with ornamental species. Additional seating to make it more of a family friendly area.

More details and have your say on the Stanningley Park proposals here.

Western Flatts Park

• Trim trail equipment around the main entrance to the park.
• Installation of new multi-use games area with full fencing.
• Groups of standard tree planting scattered around the green space.
• Pond created and wetland species planting and trees in the boggy area of the park.
• New wildflower planting across the park in the larger grassed areas.
• New toddler/junior play area moved to a position to the east of the park which will contain a range of play equipment and activities.
• The old toddler junior play area to be transformed into a skate park.
• The rose garden to be repaired and a range of new planting added.

More details and have your say on the Western Flatts Park proposals here.

Armley Town Street bid

Also part of the bid are improvements to Armley Town Street’s public realm, pedestrian, cycle and road infrastructure. Details on this element of the bid are sketchy and still being worked on by council officers.

It’s expected a public consultation will be held on the proposals later this month.

Timescale

Consultation will be held in May, as the bid will need to go before the council’s decision-making executive board for approval before being submitted to government in early July.

WLD first reported on the proposals last month.

Pudsey’s successful bid

Last year, Leeds City Council successfully applied for £20m of travel and environmental improvements to the outer ring road between Horsforth, Rodley and Pudsey, including a new footbridge at Rodley. The bid was in Stuart Andrew MP’s Pudsey constituency. 

A separate bid for a health and wellbeing centre at the site of the former Fearnville Leisure Centre in Leeds East constituency was refused by the government.