MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: Little London tower block demolition to begin

The demolition of selected tower blocks across Leeds as part of a major housing regeneration project will begin on Thursday 11 February in Little London, with the first ‘bite’ into Carlton Towers using specialist machinery.

The high-reach machine is one of only two in the country that can reach to a height of nearly 50 meters, as tall as 10 double decker buses. It will remove the top layers of the tower block by nibbling away at the building.

The demolition of these outdated blocks is being undertaken by Leeds City Council in advance of the appointment of a contractor for the building of new council homes and refurbishment of existing council homes as part of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project. Holbeck Towers, Gaitskell Court and Grange in Holbeck are also due for demolition starting March this year.

WHAT: Councillor Les Carter, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for Neighbourhoods and Housing and Lloyd Lythe, one of the first residents of to live in Carlton Towers, will be available for a photo and interviews as the machine takes the first ‘bite’ of the building
WHEN: Thursday 11 February, 9.50am arrival for 10am photo opportunities
WHERE: Carlton Towers – site entrance on Carlton Carr, Little London
PARKING: West North West Homes Leeds Housing Office car park, Oatland Drive, LS7 1SH

ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Michael Molcher, Leeds City Council (0113) 224 3937
e-mail: michael.molcher@leeds.gov.uk