{{Distinguish|City House, Dundee}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox building |image = Platform, Leeds.jpg |image_size = 240px |caption = Platform in 2017 |name = Platform |former_names = City House<br />British Railways House |location = Leeds, England |coordinates = {{coord|53.7949|-1.5468|region:GB_scale:2000|display=inline,title}} |status = |owner = Bruntwood |roof = {{convert|52|m|ft|abbr=on}} |antenna_spire = |floor_count = 12 |completion_date = 1962 |renovation_date = 2017 |floor_area = |architect = John Poulson |developer = British Railways |main_contractor = Taylor Woodrow |website = [https://bruntwood.co.uk/our-locations/leeds/platform/ Platform]}}
'''Platform,''' formerly known as '''City House''' and '''British Railways House''', is a building over Leeds railway station that was built by Taylor Woodrow in 1962.<ref>British Railways Develops One Station for Leeds ''Railway Gazette'' 19 May 1967 page 369</ref><ref>[http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/business-news/Unpopular-Leeds-landmark-City-House.4398054.jp Unpopular Leeds landmark City House set for 'striking' redesign]''Yorkshire Evening Post'' 18 August 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/VirtualArchive/leeds-station|author=Network Rail|title=Leeds Station Timeline|accessdate=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805024619/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/virtualarchive/leeds-station/|archive-date=5 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The buildings were, like many other railway buildings in the UK, designed by the later-derided architect John Poulson who also designed the nearby Leeds International Pool. Upon its construction it was famously lambasted by the poet John Betjeman, who said that the building blocked all the light out of City Square and was only a testament to money, having no architectural merit. He made similar criticism in 1968.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/feb/16/betjeman-film-bbc|title=BBC revives unaired Betjeman film forgotten for 40 years|last=Wainwright|first=Martin|date=16 February 2009|work=The Guardian|location=London|accessdate=17 June 2012|quote=See 01:39-55 in the embedded video}}</ref>
thumb|left|City House in 2008 before recladding The building was bought by a property company, Kenmore, in 2006 with a view to regenerating what it described as a "tired and dilapidated" building. Kenmore received planning permission in 2008 to extend the building at the back (on the south side) and re-clad it in glazed curtain walling. The scheme was due to be completed in 2009.<ref name=Scott>Scott, Nigel (18 August 2008). "[http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/business-news/Unpopular-Leeds-landmark-City-House.4398054.jp Unpopular Leeds landmark City House set for 'striking' redesign]", ''Yorkshire Evening Post''. Retrieved on 22 November 2008.</ref> However Kenmore went into liquidation in 2009 before the scheme had started.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.needofficespace.com/servicedoffice-blog/kenmore-property-group-goes-into-administration-owing-lloyds-banking-group-700-million-3655.html|date=18 November 2009|title=Kenmore Property Group goes into administration owing Lloyds Banking Group £700 million|accessdate=17 June 2012}}</ref> A December 2011 photo shows little change from the 2008 image (left).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2717654|title=City House, New Station Street, Leeds|author=Stephen Richards (photographer)|date=3 December 2011|accessdate=17 June 2012}}</ref>
In 2010 the building was bought by office property company Bruntwood which plans to redevelop it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2884|title=Bruntwood Look To Leeds Redevelopment|date=29 June 2011|accessdate=17 June 2012}}</ref> Planning permission for the refurbishment was granted by Leeds City Council on 13 October 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/files/19172513A207CA2D16728186201B19B3/pdf/11_02799_FU--501381.pdf|publisher=Leeds City Council|title=Refurbishment of 14 storey offices including new lift and Mezzanine level extension|date=14 October 2011|accessdate=17 June 2012}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Bruntwood's brochure for the redevelopment claims that: :"our aim is to transform this neglected property into a new high-profile business destination, creating office space to suit all sizes and types of organisation. The exterior of the building will be given a striking new look with contemporary curtain wall glazing. On the inside, the offices will be completely refurbished with the upper floors also boasting unrivalled panoramic views across the city".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bruntwood.co.uk/cityhouse/office-space|accessdate=17 June 2012|title=City House|author=Bruntwood|date=March 2012}}</ref>
Work commenced in October 2015, with the refurbishment completed in 2017.<ref>[https://bruntwood.co.uk/blog/city-house-redevelopment/ City House redevelopment] Bruntwood</ref> It was renamed Platform.<ref>[https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yorkshire/new-name-for-city-house New name for City House] Insider Media 21 June 2016</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|City House, Leeds}} *[http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=19733 City House] at SkyscraperPage.com
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1962 Category:Buildings and structures in Leeds Category:Office buildings in England Category:20th-century architecture in the United Kingdom Category:John Poulson buildings