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As British Summer Time draws to a close and longer nights loom, the Leeds tunnel that runs through Neville Street is officially opened, improving the journeys of thousands of Leeds commuters.
The redesigned tunnel incorporates a unique light and sound installation, forming an original, contemporary gateway into the city and an integrated approach to art in public spaces.
The £4.6m ‘Light’ Neville Street project is an important step in the regeneration of the city, with many creative talents, both local and international, being brought together to transform an unwelcoming tunnel into a fitting gateway – linking the city centre of Leeds with the flourishing Holbeck Urban Village and the south of the city.
The project, funded by Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Forward and Northern Way, will provide the public with a safer, more attractive and better thoroughfare. Crucially, the scheme aims to improve pedestrian safety and experience by transforming the tunnel for both pedestrians and drivers. The improvements include widening the footpaths, reducing the ambient noise, enhancing the lighting and creating interest with a unique sound & light installation designed specifically for the environment, creating an impressive entrance to the city of Leeds, in-keeping with the high quality developments at nearby Holbeck Urban Village.
The improvements to Neville Street have been designed by a team of specialists across creative and engineering disciplines and led by Leeds-based Bauman Lyons Architects. Unusually, light installations will feature on east and west walls. The design has integrated work by Berlin-based sound & light artist Hans Peter Kuhn featuring thousands of LED lights that will generate a random pattern on the east wall each day, while Leeds-based graphic designer Andy Edwards has designed an installation for the west wall that will create the illusion of movement, partly designed to increase drivers’ speed awareness upon entering the city.
Acoustic engineers Arup, who also worked on the Beijing National Stadium, The Sage in Gateshead and the Royal Opera House, has made full use of its state of the art new Sound Lab, to soften and reduce the effects of traffic noise with the bespoke-designed acoustic panels. On top of this artist Hans Peter Kuhn has created a sound installation which will interweave surprising and unexpected elements within the existing soundscape of the tunnel.
Local involvement in the project is extensive, with several different companies providing their expertise. Heywood Metal Finishers in Huddersfield have anodised the special aluminium for sound reducing panels, the LED technology has been developed locally by Holbeck company LiteLED and Bradford firm TMC are installing the acoustic systems. In addition, Plowman Brothers of York have assembled the panels that will host the lights.
Cllr Andrew Carter, joint leader of Leeds City Council said: “The approach that has been taken to improve this major gateway is very fitting for Leeds with its combination of originality, creativity and pragmatism.
It is testament to the work of the design team and to the commitment of Leeds City Council and Yorkshire Forward that, despite the current economic climate and the challenges of developing a project of this scale, Neville Street has been completely transformed.
It not only looks better, feels safer and sounds incredible but it shows the rest of the world that Leeds is an ambitious, ‘can do’ and industrious city.”
Jan Anderson Executive Director for Environment at Yorkshire Forward said: “Five years ago the team took a brave decision to create a very unique and innovative solution to a problem shared by many cities across the world. The ‘Light’ Neville Street team took an underpass, created by the development of essential infrastructure, and created a unique and inviting scheme that the city of Leeds can be proud of.
Over the last year a number of developments in the area have proved that this was the right decision to make. These include City Inn’s decision to locate at Granary Wharf, the recent announcement of the new southern exit from Leeds’ railway station and of course Yorkshire Forward’s own decision to invest further in its Tower Works site by brining forward the initial phase of development. I am truly delighted that the ‘Light’ Neville Street project has come to fruition creating a fitting gateway to a 21st century city.”
Andy Carver, Chief Executive Arts Council England, Yorkshire said: “This exciting project to enliven the public realm in one of Leeds key gateway approaches to the city shows just how effective the intervention of artists can be in improving the fabric of our urban spaces. It is an innovative piece of work which demonstrates that Leeds is a city not afraid to re-invent itself and present a dynamic profile to the world. But most importantly, it’s also a thing of beauty that will bring a moment of pleasure to the thousands of people, both locals and visitors, passing through Neville Street each day.”
