Work on collapsed building in Leeds city centre pushed back to 2026 as businesses say they have 'given up'

Work to repair the collapsed building on Lower Kirkgate was due to start at the end of September but Leeds City Council have now said that the works will not start until next year and are expected to last for 22 weeks.

Frustration has grown among businesses in the year-and-a-half since the derelict, privately-owned 18th century building collapsed in April 2024 as it has closed the road to traffic and stifled trade.

Building firm Geo Houlton and Sons was hired to carry out the repairs on the privately-owned buildings at a cost of £414,500. The beginning of work was halted the other week when a need for further preparatory ground surveys was found.

In December 2024 an urgent works notice was served on the owner of the buildings, which meant the council could carry out the repairs itself and reclaim the cost if they did not take action.

The use of a compulsory purchase order was also being considered as a last resort to enable the restoration of the buildings.

Business owners near the collapsed building have said that trade has been noticeably impacted since the closure of the road.

General manager at Doghouse Bar and Bagel Shop, Cameron Bedford said that despite the bar’s loyal customer base it has “suffered” since the building collapse along with the whole street.

“We took a big hit at the start”, he said. “We’ve spoke loads with other businesses about how not enough has been done.

“We’ve been told multiple times by the council that it was going to be done but since it keeps getting pushed back we’ve all started giving up a little bit.”

He said that the council provided furniture for a street party to bring trade to the area each of the last two summers but that otherwise the support from them and the landlord has been “non-existent”.

Mr Bedford said: “It’s been a year and a half now and what’s happened? Not a lot.

“There’s talks of them pedestrianizing the street and they’ve asked us to come together and write to the same place.

“It’s a shame because I know the council have their hands tied with a lot of it but everyone’s kind of given up. It’s a case of ‘we’ll believe it when we see it’.”

Head chef at Wapentake, Brian Hearle said that the street has lost trade from people who used to come past on the buses.

He added: “We’re getting really fed up with what’s going on. It’s just been dragging on and on and on.

“It ‘s taken a lot of business from the area since it came down. It’s not good. It needs sorting out.

“Are they waiting for it to get blown down again? I don’t know. It’s just sad.”

Owner of Tribe Records across the road, Simon, said that he was working when the building came down and that it “sounded like a sandwich board falling down”.

He added that he and other businesses have been holding discussions among themselves and with the council to keep the street busy and push forward the need to get the building repaired.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We recognise that the situation on Lower Kirkgate remains a source of frustration for many people and, as a council, we have worked hard – while following all the necessary legal processes – to reach a stage where we can make these privately-owned buildings safe once again.

“With preparations for the programme of stabilisation work now in their final stages, it is hoped that a start on site should be possible in early 2026.”

They said that as the buildings are important heritage assets the work has required “extremely careful and complex planning”.

The spokesperson said: “This process has been complicated by the derelict state of the buildings and the site, with structural surveys, ground condition tests, utilities mapping and other checks all having to be carried out.

“The preparations have been challenging and time consuming but, clearly, the need for the work to be conducted safely and securely must take precedence.

“It should also be stressed that the problems on Lower Kirkgate are not of the council’s making, with the condition of the buildings having deteriorated over a period of many years prior to last April’s partial collapse.

“Our subsequent decision to step in and carry out the stabilisation work ourselves was made after the owners failed to take necessary action to ensure the safety of the buildings.”

They thanked the businesses and residents on the street for their “continued patience and support” and said they will keep providing updates about the work.

They said: “Lower Kirkgate has benefited from a huge amount of council-led regeneration activity over the last decade and we are determined to do everything we can to ensure that this vibrant and much-loved street continues to go from strength to strength, both now and in the future.”

The building’s landlords were approached for a comment.