The investment in our new hospital gives us the opportunity for us to redevelop our Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) site to create a new world-class hub for science, research, technology and innovation. It will bring about direct and wider economic benefits of almost £13bn in net present value terms as well as create more than 4,000 jobs and over 520 new homes.
Our current Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) site contains a mix of old and new buildings – like the original Victorian Infirmary designed by celebrated architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. Yet, a sizeable amount of the old estate at Leeds General Infirmary cannot be used for modern patient care because it isn’t up to today’s exacting healthcare standards. The Trust will release the potential of this estate – around five hectares in total – to create a new ‘Innovation Village’ in Leeds. This redevelopment opportunity offers exceptional opportunities for mixed use development as well as a chance to sympathetically redevelop some of the wonderful heritage buildings on the site and give them new life and purpose.
Leeds already boasts a rich history of medical firsts including the world’s first double hand transplant and the world’s first procedure using non-invasive sonic beam therapy to target and destroy tumours. Our ‘Innovation Village’ builds on this exciting history and will become a go-to place to bring together the best minds in the public and private sector to transform clinical and academic breakthroughs into business start-ups and scale-ups – putting Leeds on the map as a leading global centre for the future design and delivery of health technology and care.
The Innovation Village is a key site in Leeds City Council’s ‘Leeds Innovation Arc’ which is a collection of neighbourhoods across the city that will benefit from improved transport links, new green space, to improve collaboration and innovation across the city. This is an exciting, strategic partnership between Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds Beckett University, the University of Leeds, Leeds City Council and the private sector to drive regeneration, innovation and economic growth for Leeds and the wider region.