It’s fair to say that Yorkshire’s modern buildings have never reached the heights of many of the UK’s cities. When we think of tall Yorkshire edifices we are instantly drawn to our ancient minsters with their fine towers. The industrial revolution also left its mark with the awesome Lister’s Manningham Mills chimney in Bradford. Modelled on the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, it stands at an impressive 255 ft (78m).
So far as tallest structures in Yorkshire are concerned the 329 metre high telecommunications and broadcasting transmitting tower on Emley Moor wins hands down. Not only is it Yorkshire’s tallest, but it is the UK’s tallest free-standing structure. With a couple of exceptions most of our tall modern buildings are based in Leeds. Which do you think is the tallest of these? Check out our compilation of Yorkshire’s tallest buildings to find out if you’re on the ball.
#10 – ‘Cottingley Towers’ and ‘Cottingley Heights’
Height: 72 meters or 236 feet
Location: Leeds
‘Cottingley Towers’ and ‘Cottingley Heights’ are twin high-rise towers of rented-flat accommodation in Leeds, West Yorkshire. ‘Cottingley Towers’ and ‘Cottingley Heights’ were previously the tallest residential buildings in Leeds, with 25 floors each. The towers are 72 metres (236 feet) tall but are not classed as skyscrapers. They were built between 1971-2 and were refurbished in 1989.
The towers were once heralded as the tallest residential buildings in Europe. The Towers and Heights fall within the Beeston and Holbeck ward of the Leeds City Council.
#9 – K2
Height: 74 meters or 243 feet
Location: Leeds
K2 is a residential tower block in Leeds, UK. The building is situated in the city centre, on Albion Street and Great George Street, opposite St John’s Centre. The building has 20 stories and is 74 meters (242 feet) tall. The commercial parts of the building are known as ‘The Cube’.
The building was originally built in 1972, as Dudley House, an office block occupied by Leeds City Council, however by the early 2000s, the building had been renovated in flats and renamed K2.
#8 – Candle House
Height: 75 meters or 246 feet
Location: Leeds
Candle House is a located in Leeds. The building offers 160 studio, one bed and two bed apartments over 20 floors. The building itself is 23 storeys high and is located at Granary Wharf, which is a shopping centre built in the brick tunnels underneath Leeds Railway Station.
Tied #7 – Tower North Central
Height: 77 meters or 252 feet
Location: Leeds
Tower North Central (previously known as Tower House) is a 77 meter high office tower in Leeds. It is situated at the top end of Leeds city centre on Merrion Way. The building was constructed in 1967 and was recently refurbished in 2003-2004, and now provides 76,800 sq ft (7,130 m2) of office space. The main tenant is AXA Insurance, occupying seven of the nineteen floors to let.
Tied #7 – Park Plaza Hotel Leeds
Height: 77 meters or 252 feet
Location: Leeds
Park Plaza Hotel Leeds (also known as Royal Exchange House) is a tower block in Leeds, it is situated in central Leeds on Leeds City Square near Leeds railway station. The tower was completed in 1966 after construction began in 1965 and was then an office block. It was reclad in 2004 to host the four star Park Plaza Hotel. It has a roof height of 77 meters and 20 floors. It was Leeds’ tallest building for seven years from 1966 to 1973.
#6 – Arts Tower
Height: 78 meters or 260 feet
Location: Sheffield
The Arts Tower is a building at 12 Bolsover Street in Sheffield, England belonging to the University of Sheffield and opened in 1966. English Heritage has called it “the most elegant university tower block in Britain of its period”. At 255 feet (78 meters) tall, it is the second tallest building in the city.
Designed by architects Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners, construction of the tower started in 1961 and lasted four years. The building was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother in June 1966; it has 20 stories and a mezzanine level above ground.
#5 – Pinnacle / West Riding House
Height: 80 meters or 262 feet
Location: Leeds
Pinnacle (formerly West Riding House) is a 20 storey tall office building in Leeds, which was completed in 1973. It was the tallest building in the city until 2005 with the topping out of Bridgewater Place. There are retail units on the ground floor of the building as it is located in the centre of the shopping district of the city. It was internally renovated in the early 2000s followed by a refurbishment of the lower floor retail space. Leeds City Council were originally the main tenants in the building but have since vacated their offices there.
There is also a smaller West Riding House opposite Forster Square railway station in neighbouring Bradford.
#4 – Opal 3 / Opal Tower
Height: 90 meters or 295 feet
Location: Leeds
Opal Tower, officially known as Opal 3, Leeds is a 25 storey building in Leeds. It serves as student accommodation for 542 students and is close to the Civic Quarter campus of Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Leeds. Construction work began in early 2007 and was completed in 2009, this was before the design was altered after initial approval and permission was granted for the current 25 storey tower.
#3 – St Paul’s Tower
Height: 101 meters or 331 feet
Location: Sheffield
St Paul’s Tower (also called the City Lofts Tower or the Conran Tower) is an upscale residential development completed in April 2011 situated in the city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The tower became the tallest building in Sheffield when completed at 101 meters, overtaking the Arts Tower by 23 meters. The tower became the tallest building in Sheffield when completed at 101 metres, overtaking the Arts Tower by 23 metres (75 foot), although the base of the Arts Tower is approximately 45 metres (148 ft) higher above sea level than the base of St Paul’s tower, meaning the roof of the Arts Tower is still higher by around 22 metres (72 foot) than the roof of St Paul’s tower.
The scheme consists of a 32 storey tower called St Paul’s Tower, which is primarily faced with glass, along with a 9 storey block called St Paul’s View, which is primarily faced with glass, sandstone and bronze. They are linked at the bottom by one floor of retail space and a roof terrace atop the retail building.
#2 – Sky Plaza / The Plaza Tower
Height: 106 meters or 347 feet
Location: Leeds
Sky Plaza (also known as The Plaza Tower) is a 348 foot (106 meter) skyscraper in Leeds. It is the second phase of a development in Leeds city centre, consisting of 572 student apartments. It is the world’s second tallest student accommodation building, with the tallest being #17 New Wakefield Street# in Manchester. While not the tallest building in Leeds, its roof is the highest point in the city as it is built on high ground. It can be seen from as far as 25 miles (40 km) from most areas.
It caters mainly to students from University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds College of Music. The premium range of flats are some of the most expensive student accommodations in Leeds.
#1 – Bridgewater Place
Height: 112 meters or 367 feet
Location: Leeds
Bridgewater Place, nicknamed The Dalek, is an office and residential development in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is the tallest building in Yorkshire, and has held this record since being topped out in September 2005. It is visible at up to 25 miles (40 kilometres) from certain areas. The building has become controversial in both its aesthetic design and because of accidents caused by its acceleration of winds, including one death.
The development has been designed by Aedas Architects with the developer being Landmark Development Projects and St James Securities. It was first announced in 2000 and, following several redesigns and delays with the construction process, construction of the building began in 2004 and was completed in 2007.
Bridgewater Place has 32 storeys, of which two are used for car parking, ten for offices and twenty for residential purposes. There is 40,000 m2 (430,000 sq ft) of floor space in the building with 200 flats and 400 underground car parking spaces serving both the residential and commercial areas of the building.
One Response
Luke Young
I will always call Bridgewater the Dalek from now on, this list made me learn a lot about buildings in Yorkshire