Owners of skyscraper to pay council £903k over work to reduce wind danger

The owners of the tallest skyscraper in Yorkshire have agreed to pay Leeds City Council £903,000 to cover the costs of work done to protect the public from the wind danger caused by the building.

The money payable by CPPI Bridgewater Place is to cover the outlay of public money so far, “including the expense of having to close the road junction around the building [Bridgewater Place] during high winds on a relatively frequent basis”, according to the council.

Leeds said future high winds protocol-related costs it incurs will also be met.

CPPI’s contractors are working on the installation of a complex design solution to the wind issues.

A contractual indemnity guarantees full reimbursement without dispute or delay, the council said.

A wind tunnel effect caused by the building has led to a number of incidents, including one death.

The owners have agreed to meet the costs of road closures, along with the legal costs and money spent by the council initiating and working with wind experts on the original design solution plans before CPPI agreed to take them on and develop them.

The costs are payable either by September 25 2019 or should the owners sell the freehold to the building, whichever comes first.

Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds’ executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “As a council we are clear that the danger posed by this building to the public is unacceptable and we have tirelessly pushed for nothing less than the best possible solution to this situation.

“We did not wait for the owners to act on their responsibilities but continued to put pressure on them while we set about working with leading wind experts to tackle these issues. While doing so we also addressed the junction’s safety through installation of barriers and railings, along with closures in times of high winds.”

Cllr Lewis added: “This agreement means we are now able to recover the costs to council taxpayers of pursuing the solution and protecting the public while the owners got their plans in place.”