Detailed proposals for Leeds Arena are welcomed

Detailed proposals for the new Leeds Arena have been given a preliminary welcome by city councillors. Members of the city centre plans panel were given a presentation of the designs, which were unveiled by the council last week and were asked to give their early thoughts before a formal planning application is submitted later this month. The honeycombed design will combine with multi-coloured lights at the 13,500-capacity Clay Pit Lane venue, with building work scheduled to start later this year and be completed in late 2012. Councillors on the city centre plans panel in Leeds Civic Hall yesterday afternoon largely welcomed the plans. They were shown plans for both inside and outside of the planned building, as well as the public landscaped area outside. Headingley Liberal Democrat Jamie Matthews said: "The kaleidoscopic design is brilliant, I really love it. It reminds me of the Wales Millennium Centre, the way it is lit up." Leeds Arena fly through animation video from Leeds City Council on Vimeo . Fellow Headingley Liberal Democrat James Monaghan said he was 'very excited' by the designs, but raised issues with highways and a planned 'supercrossing' and issues with people parking for free in the area. Bramley and Stanningley Labour councillor Neil Taggart said: "I remember when the Corn Exchange was restored, I was staggered to find a light aircraft hanging from the ceiling. I was shocked. You can't help but be impressed when you go to places like the Royal Albert Hall, but if you go to Birmingham NEC, there is no atmosphere. "My point is I want people to see this building an dpick up on the atmosphere and the 'wow factor' even if they've not heard a note." Civic architect John Thorp told councillors that the arena wouldn't be suitable for live orchestral music due to the acoustics and would be used mainly for pop and rock concerts, as well as sporting events. A report to councillors, which can be read here , said: "It is now intended to submit the Reserved Matters application at the end of August 2010. It is hoped that it will be possible to determine the application at Plans Panel on 11 November 2010 with a view to commencing construction during January 2011. Construction is planned for a two-year period, allowing opening early 2013."