# City House

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_House
> Source revision: 1124317398
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{{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](/source/Leeds), England
|coordinates        = {{coord|53.7949|-1.5468|region:GB_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
|status             = 
|owner              = [Bruntwood](/source/Bruntwood)
|roof               = {{convert|52|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|antenna_spire      = 
|floor_count        = 12
|completion_date    = 1962
|renovation_date    = 2017 
|floor_area         = 
|architect          = [John Poulson](/source/John_Poulson)
|developer          = [British Rail](/source/British_Rail)ways
|main_contractor    = [Taylor Woodrow](/source/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](/source/Leeds_railway_station) that was built by [Taylor Woodrow](/source/Taylor_Woodrow) in 1962.<ref>British Railways Develops One Station for Leeds ''[Railway Gazette](/source/Railway_Gazette_International)'' 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](/source/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](/source/John_Poulson) who also designed the nearby [Leeds International Pool](/source/Leeds_International_Pool). Upon its construction it was famously lambasted by the poet [John Betjeman](/source/John_Betjeman), who said that the building blocked all the light out of [City Square](/source/Leeds_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](/source/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](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [City House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_House) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_House?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.