Plans for the future of the landmark Tetley building in Leeds have been submitted to the city council.

Developers Vastint UK aim to retain the 92 year-old building’s art deco façade and also boost accessibility and open up new areas to the public for the first time. The proposals include turning the basement, which connected the building and the wider brewery site, into a lounge and bar; a market hall space on the ground floor and event space and 13,000 sqft of offices on the upper floors

A roof terrace could also take shape and a extension to the eastern façade of the building. Vastint UK acquired the Tetley Building from Carlsberg in 2022 and has since been looking at plans to make the landmark building the “crown jewel” of its Aire Park district in the city, which includes a 3.5-hectare city centre green park, 800,000 sqft of office space and up to 1,400 new homes.

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Simon Schofield, head of development north at Vastint UK, said: “The Tetley is an iconic building within Leeds, and we’re privileged to have it as a cornerstone of the Aire Park development. As custodians of this important piece of the city’s history, we have been working hard with our architects Supervene and Enjoy Design, Leeds City Council and others to look at how we preserve this beautiful building, ensuring it remains at the heart of the community for another century.

“Our plans aim to create a variety of spaces within the building including public amenities such as a Changing Places facility, food and drink opportunities and event spaces, which will be accessible to all. We also want to continue the building’s history of being a place of business, by creating new office space.

“Ultimately this project is unique in its scope, as it not only adds to the wider development but also ensures a major landmark continues to play an active role in the future of Leeds. We’d like to think that Joshua Tetley would be impressed by the ambition we have for the site he purchased for £402 in 1822 and grew to be the largest brewery in the North of England.”

Wesley Dodds, director at Enjoy Design, added: “The recent partnership between Vastint UK and Kirkstall Brewery has provided a glimpse of what the future holds for The Tetley. The building has evolved constantly over its almost one-hundred-year history and we’re very proud to be a part of the next evolution of Leeds’ beloved Tetley.”

Michael Westlake, director at Supervene Architects added: “To be given the chance to work on a building which holds such an important place within a city’s cultural history and be able to shape its next chapter is really exciting. We believe these plans will not only breathe new life into the building and open aspects which have never been open to the public before, but will also ensure the building can continue to act as a beacon to attract both locals and visitors to the area and the wider Aire Park.”