While our skyline is constantly evolving with new glass towers, many of our historic and prominent buildings remain in a state of neglect, blighting an otherwise beautiful city.
Despite significant investment flowing into the regeneration of the city, many run-down sites earmarked for restoration have seen progress stall, while others have watched planning applications fall through, or sites sit vacant for decades.
Many of these structures, from incredible Gothic churches to vaunted Victorian wings, have been granted Listed status, but while this protects them from the wrecking ball, it does not guarantee maintenance.
As a result, several have become overrun with rot or fallen into a state of ruin while waiting for a viable future.
From abandoned pubs in Hunslet to the holes in the ground on Vicar Lane, these are the eyesores I and (I’m almost certain) other residents in the city would love to see tackled over the next 12 months
7. The Sun Inn (Hunslet)
Located on Church Street, The Sun Inn was once a thriving hub of the Hunslet community, but it has spent the last several years in a state of steep decline. | YEP Photo: Google
8. ATS North Eastern (city centre)
The abandoned ATS North Eastern building on Regent Street remains a stark eyesore on one of the city's busiest commuter gateways. Despite its prominent location, the site has sat vacant for years, with its deteriorating facade and boarded-up windows. | Google Street View
9. ABC Cinema (City Centre)
Once a premier destination for filmgoers, the vacant plot has sat undeveloped for 20 years, serving as a prominent eyesore in the heart of the city centre. Local sentiment remains high that the site is long overdue for a meaningful development that finally fills the void left on this busy thoroughfare. | Google Street View
10. Buildings on Vicar Lane
A little further down the road, several partly derelict buildings remain an eyesore, particularly the empty units located near the former Old Red Bus Station. While local businesses continue to thrive on the ground floor, the upper levels are in desperate need of a facelift. | Yorkshire Evening Post
11. Poverty Aid (Burley)
The Poverty Aid charity shop on Cardigan Road has become a familiar sight of neglect in the heart of Burley, having stood derelict for several years. Once a bustling community hub, the building’s deteriorating exterior and shuttered windows now stand in stark contrast to the vibrant student and residential area surrounding it. | Google Street View Photo: Google