Council gets go-ahead for collapsed building work

A council has been given permission to force the owners of damaged buildings on one of Leeds' oldest streets to repair them.

Leeds City Council applied to the government for an urgent works notice (UWN), which would require the owners of the affected properties on Lower Kirkgate to fix them.

On 12 April, one of the buildings - 85 Kirkgate - partially collapsed, with the road closed to traffic ever since.

The government recently informed the local authority that its application had been successful, with owner City Fusion served with the UWN on Wednesday.

Under the UWN, if the owner fails to start a repair programme within 28 days the council can step in and make the buildings safe.

The local authority can then seek to recover the cost of repairs from the owner - estimated at £700,000.

As well as the partial collapse at 85 Kirkgate, there have been fires at 101, 86 and 87 Kirkgate.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council's deputy leader, said: "We recognise the situation on Lower Kirkgate has proved frustrating for local businesses and residents and we have been determined to find a solution.

"It's really encouraging news that we have been able to serve the UWN - I would once again like to thank people living and working in the area for the patience they have shown over recent months."

Martin Hamilton, from Leeds Civic Trust, called it "welcome news" but criticised the need for government approval in the first place.

"It does seem wrong that a city the size of Leeds is not allowed to make these decisions locally and that it took central government more than four months to approve these measures," he said.

"We have raised these concerns with the local MP and will be writing to the minster suggesting that these decisions should in future be taken at a local level."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.