Hunslet Grange Flats

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Hunslet Grange Flats
Hunslet Grange Flats
General information
Location Hunslet, Leeds
Coordinates 53°46′48″N1°31′52″W / 53.77990°N 1.53105°W / 53.77990; -1.53105
StatusDemolished
No. of units350
Construction
Constructed1957–1961
ArchitectMartin Richardson of The Yorkshire Development Group (YDG) and E. W. Stanley
Contractors Shepherd Construction
Authority Leeds City Council
Style Brutalism
Demolished1983

The Hunslet Grange Flats (colloquially known as the Leek Street Flats) was a complex of deck-accessed flats in Hunslet, Leeds.

Contents

Design and construction

Slum clearances in the 1960s led to clearing of much of Hunslet with many terraced housing, mostly back-to-backs. The complex was commissioned by Leeds City Council, designed by Yorkshire Development Group and built by Shepherd Construction. The development, which consisted of 350 flats and maisonettes, [1] was completed in 1968. [2]

The complex was designed in the style of so-called 'streets in the sky' with overhead walkways connecting blocks. The exterior of the buildings were pale grey pebble-dashed concrete panels. Each floor had a rubbish disposal chute leading to huge bins at street level. [3] Twelve of the blocks were six storeys in height and six were of seven, with the entrance on the second floor. The estate covered a large area of Hunslet and was arranged in three clusters around a small park. [4] Shops and a public house, "The Pioneer" made up part of the complex. [5]

Decline and demolition

The complex was at first popular with its tenants. However, this early popularity was short-lived. The warm-air heating systems were inadequate for the poorly insulated concrete prefabricated buildings, the interiors suffered from condensation. This led to chronic fuel poverty among the inhabitants. [6] Demolition of the complex started in 1983, less than fifteen years after the first tenants moved in. [7]

While there were many complexes of similar layout and concept, the Bransholme Maisonettes in Bransholme, Kingston upon Hull were similar in design and aesthetics. They were demolished in the late 1980s having suffered similar problems to Hunslet Grange. Like Hunslet Grange these were also designed by Yorkshire Development Group. [8]

Hunslet Green

Gardeners Court showing new housing which has replaced Hunslet Grange Gardeners Court - The Oval (geograph 3292547).jpg
Gardeners Court showing new housing which has replaced Hunslet Grange

The site was redeveloped by Leeds Development Corporation as Hunslet Green in the early 1990s. [9] Today it consists of low-rise housing, the Hunslet Green Community Sports Club and a small business park. The only remnant of the Hunslet Grange Flats is an electrical substation which remains on the Oval. [2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Leek Street Flats". South Leeds Life. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 Morrell, Steve. "Pottery Vale, Leek Street flats (Hunslet Grange)". www.leodis.net.
  3. ↑ Morrell, Steve. "Pottery Vale, Leek Street flats (Hunslet Grange)". www.leodis.net.
  4. ↑ "Leek St, Hunslet, Leeds". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "Photo memories chart rise and fall of Hunslet's Leek Street Flats". Yorkshire Evening Post. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  6. ↑ Ellis, David John (1 September 2015). "Pavement Politics: Community Action in Leeds, c. 1960–1990" (PDF). University of York. p. 46. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  7. ↑ "Changing Leeds – The rise and fall of Hunslet's Leek Street flats". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  8. ↑ "Yorkshire Development Group". Dirty Modern Scoundrel. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  9. ↑ Hunslet Green A Major Development Opportunity on a 50 Acre Site. Leeds Development Corporation. 1988.
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