A group of more than 50 Leeds businesses have hit out at a scheme to build a Stack market in Leeds.
Leeds City Council announced it had signed a lease with STACK to run the new market at Leeds Kirkgate Market in August, sending a shockwave around the city centre business community. Now, more than 50 have joined together to pen a joint letter to the council in opposition to the plans.
In the letter, the businesses said this new development would not help drive more footfall into the city centre, but would instead pull customers away from the other businesses in the city.
Martin Greenhow, the Managing Director at MOJO, who have a location in Leeds, was one voice speaking out against the plan. He said: “It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody really that our sector of industry, hospitality, is going through a tough time and, to be honest, the tough time seems to have been running for years now.”
City centre footfall has improved year-on-year, but still remains below pre-pandemic levels, further hurting business in Leeds. In addition, people, particularly younger people, are spending less time and money in the city, further hurting profits.
With businesses already struggling, Martin believes the Stack market plans are “ill guided”. He points towards legal challenges brought by businesses in Newcastle against a similar Stack market scheme as an example.
Martin Greenhow -Credit:Martin Greenhow
Much of the concern is directed at Leeds City Council itself rather than Stack, as the businesses involved feel they should do more to work with them. Martin said: “People make the argument, ‘well, you know, it’s business’, and if this was a private landlord, would we be happy about it, no, but the point being, that’s commerciality, there’s no getting away from that.
“But this isn’t, this is the local authority. The local authority’s duty and responsibility should be to nurture the city as a whole.
“I see it, that if the council’s doing their job and nurturing the city centre, what we would see is more and more of the empty units that we’ve got all over the city centre being filled. What they’re doing is the reverse, you’re bringing in new real estate, for want of a better word, and all that’s going to do is increase the pressure on the businesses that are already finding hard times as it is.”
Martin worries businesses will be made to close down as a result, which would lead to less business diversity in the city centre itself. He adds that while consultations were heard, these were in late December for businesses, which meant many missed their chance to object.
He said: “It feels very much like there’s a thumb on the scale of the decision making process. That’s broadly our issue.
“The city doesn’t need it, the city won’t benefit from it, and in fact, if anything, it will do harm.”
In a letter signed by the businesses, they said they were concerned with:
-
The timing of the consultation.
-
Prior objections from market traders ignored.
-
No consultation with potentially impacted businesses in the city.
-
Ineffective consultation with local councillors.
-
Insufficient response from key stakeholders contacted.
-
Weighting of data accrued.
The businesses who signed the letter were:
-
Roxy Ball Room Merrion Street
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We recognise and fully appreciate the part our brilliant hospitality businesses play in the vibrancy and success of Leeds city centre, as well as the difficulties that their sector has faced nationally in recent years.
“Should it secure the necessary planning approvals, STACK Leeds would bring increased footfall to the market and help safeguard the long-term sustainability of this much-loved retail destination.
“By adding a new element to the local food and drink offer, we are confident it would also benefit the wider city centre – and its existing hospitality businesses – by making Leeds an even more attractive place to spend time and money.
“We strongly refute the suggestion that the consultation exercise carried out in late 2022 was flawed or in any way designed to deliver a particular set of results.
“More than 2,000 online questionnaires were completed, with members of the public giving overwhelmingly positive backing to the general idea of bringing a container-style venue to the market.
“Engagement was also carried out with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Leeds Hotels and Venues Association, Leeds BID, Leeds Civic Trust and independent licensed premises located near the market.
“Local hospitality businesses, like all other interested parties, will have an additional opportunity to raise concerns or voice support for this scheme during the planning process.”
A spokesperson for Stack said: “STACK has a proven track record of driving regeneration and increasing city centre visits. In customer surveys across our venues, 93% of visitors said STACK has had a positive impact on regeneration and 77% told us it makes them more likely to visit the city. Importantly, our customers don’t just come to STACK – 70% also visit other bars, 47% dine in other restaurants or cafés, and nearly half go shopping as part of their trip.
“We are fully committed to working with the existing market and ensuring STACK Leeds complements and supports this much-loved destination. By creating a new attraction that brings more people into the area, we believe we can help increase footfall and drive additional spend that benefits traders and the wider city centre.
“STACK attracts a wide audience all year round, with over 30% of visits including families thanks to our programme of family-friendly events alongside live music and entertainment. We also act as an incubator for independent street food traders, helping small businesses grow and even move on to launch their own high street restaurants.
“If approved, STACK Leeds will create 140–160 new jobs and deliver a vibrant new destination that adds to the city’s reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting and diverse hospitality centres.”
Get all the latest and breaking news in Leeds by signing up to our newsletter here.