Our Plan
The exciting proposal would deliver a new visitor centre as part of a fully landscaped gateway to Otley, that works with and alongside the Otley Flood alleviation scheme and maintains all important access for Otley Show and Otley Carnival.
It involves the provision of a visitor centre and cafe, raised above ground level, focused on the site, history, and local ecology, toilet facilities and car park.
The proposal would resolve the future of the currently empty and unused brownfield site, which was occupied by buildings at the heart of the community’s economic life until 2002, but which has since has an uncertain future.
Our Plan
The exciting proposal would deliver a new visitor centre as part of a fully landscaped gateway to Otley, that works with and alongside the Otley Flood alleviation scheme and maintains all important access for Otley Show and Otley Carnival.
It involves the provision of a visitor centre and cafe, raised above ground level, focused on the site, history, and local ecology, toilet facilities and car park.
The proposal would resolve the future of the currently empty and unused brownfield site, which was occupied by buildings at the heart of the community’s economic life until 2002, but which has since has an uncertain future.
THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE
Otley Riverside Centre Proposal
Visitor Centre, Cafe and Toilets
The proposal is the creation of a single building with three components side-by-side.
Visitor Centre
A visitor centre to celebrate the history of the site, Otley’s riverside and local ecology. This would include the contribution the Auction Mart played in the development of Otley using photographs and supporting narrative. It will also look to the future by providing information about the local environment and ecology, providing opportunities for the community to learn about the local catchment and the wildlife it contains. The site has always been an important one to local wildlife. The Auction Mart building included a clock tower that was at one stage home to bats!
Café
- The café element seeks to re-provide the hugely popular riverside amenity previously provided by Dunnies’ café nearby for the benefit of walkers, cyclists, motorcyclists and other visitors, for which there is no current provision.
Toilets
- A third key element of the building would be the provision of toilets to plug a major gap in the area is amenity. Despite the large number of visitors, many children and elderly people, there is only one single Leeds city council owned toilet now in Wharfemeadows Park, which is also often not open.
Car park
The proposal also includes the provision of a 90-space public short-stay permeable surface car park for the use of visitors to the riverside specifically and also locals coming from north of the river who would prefer to walk into town rather than sit in the frequent traffic jams across the bridge.
Parking is a problem on busy days on the road to Buon Apps and also the roads adjacent to Wharfemeadows Park and the visitor centre car park would hugely alleviate that.
It would also include a further parking area at the rear of the site for coaches and commercial vehicles needed for the Otley Show and Otley Carnival, adjacent to the vehicular access to the Showground in the next field. It is envisaged that the car parking area could also in time be potentially used for small scale, open-air community events requiring the use of temporary rather than any permanent infrastructure.
The permeable surface would allow drainage and work with the flood defences and the whole area would be landscaped to work as an attractive centre to make the most of this important riverside site.
THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE
Otley Riverside Centre Proposal
Visitor Centre, Cafe and Toilets
The proposal is the creation of a single building with three components side-by-side.
Visitor Centre
A visitor centre to celebrate the history of the site, Otley’s riverside and local ecology. This would include the contribution the Auction Mart played in the development of Otley using photographs and supporting narrative. It will also look to the future by providing information about the local environment and ecology, providing opportunities for the community to learn about the local catchment and the wildlife it contains. The site has always been an important one to local wildlife. The Auction Mart building included a clock tower that was at one stage home to bats!
Café
- The café element seeks to re-provide the hugely popular riverside amenity previously provided by Dunnies’ café nearby for the benefit of walkers, cyclists, motorcyclists and other visitors, for which there is no current provision.
Toilets
- A third key element of the building would be the provision of toilets to plug a major gap in the area is amenity. Despite the large number of visitors, many children and elderly people, there is only one single Leeds city council owned toilet now in Wharfemeadows Park, which is also often not open.
Car park
The proposal also includes the provision of a 90-space public short-stay permeable surface car park for the use of visitors to the riverside specifically and also locals coming from north of the river who would prefer to walk into town rather than sit in the frequent traffic jams across the bridge.
Parking is a problem on busy days on the road to Buon Apps and also the roads adjacent to Wharfemeadows Park and the visitor centre car park would hugely alleviate that.
It would also include a further parking area at the rear of the site for coaches and commercial vehicles needed for the Otley Show and Otley Carnival, adjacent to the vehicular access to the Showground in the next field. It is envisaged that the car parking area could also in time be potentially used for small scale, open-air community events requiring the use of temporary rather than any permanent infrastructure.
The permeable surface would allow drainage and work with the flood defences and the whole area would be landscaped to work as an attractive centre to make the most of this important riverside site.
Key features of the proposal
The key features of the proposal are:
- A new riverside fully accessible visitor centre celebrating the history and ecology of the Otley riverside site.
- A new accessible café facility, with facilities for families, walkers, cyclists, motorcyclists – bringing back the role that Dunnies once did.
- Much needed toilets for the riverside area.
- Parking for the riverside area/Wharfemeadows Park to relieve parking on streets adjacent to the park and town centre car parks.
- Provision of a new community venue that can be used for community events in the evening.
- The whole site would be landscaped and would maintain the stunning views towards Ilkley Moor.
- Will work on and alongside Otley’s flood defences.
Key benefits of the proposal
The key benefits of the project are:
- Provision of a new visitor centre, café and much needed toilets, all important new facilities benefiting locals and increasing Otley’s appeal to visitors.
- Much needed riverside parking provision and easier access to the riverside for visitors to reduce pressure on town centre car parks.
- Resolving the future of the site and preserve it for community and recreational use, for the benefit of Otley as a town, residents and visitors.
- A new gateway to the town centre, able to reduce unnecessary traffic coming into town from the north.
- An alternative space for visitors to pause and relax away from the hubbub of the children’s play area.
- A building block to the long-term aspiration of opening up of the riverbank towards the sailing club to walkers and cyclists.
The Flood Defences
The visitor centre and car park proposal have been designed specifically to work on and with the flood defences and would have no impact on them on the land. The proposal recognises the importance of the site position in the functional floodplain, whilst bringing the site back into community use in line with its history for over 100 years.
The proposed building would stand above ground level to enable flood waters to flow freely underneath in line with the new flood alleviation scheme. In addition, the operation of the car park would be aligned with the Environment Agency’s local flood warning arrangements with the car park is closed and vehicles subject to removal in the event of flood warnings.
- The visitor centre/café would be constructed on stilts, using tried and tested flood resilient techniques.
- The car park and general ground areas will be permeable and have no impact on flooding.
- There would be no overnight parking and the whole facility would be barriered off from entry at flood risk times.
A number of schemes of this nature have been successfully implemented on the Wharfe and similar locations which have been designed to provide community amenity and do not compromise the functional floodplain’s ability to store floodwater when the river overtops its banks. Leeds city council successfully operates the Paradise Car Park in Wetherby in such a location.
The Flood Defences
The visitor centre and car park proposal have been designed specifically to work on and with the flood defences and would have no impact on them on the land. The proposal recognises the importance of the site position in the functional floodplain, whilst bringing the site back into community use in line with its history for over 100 years.
The proposed building would stand above ground level to enable flood waters to flow freely underneath in line with the new flood alleviation scheme. In addition, the operation of the car park would be aligned with the Environment Agency’s local flood warning arrangements with the car park is closed and vehicles subject to removal in the event of flood warnings.
- The visitor centre/café would be constructed on stilts, using tried and tested flood resilient techniques.
- The car park and general ground areas will be permeable and have no impact on flooding.
- There would be no overnight parking and the whole facility would be barriered off from entry at flood risk times.
A number of schemes of this nature have been successfully implemented on the Wharfe and similar locations which have been designed to provide community amenity and do not compromise the functional floodplain’s ability to store floodwater when the river overtops its banks. Leeds city council successfully operates the Paradise Car Park in Wetherby in such a location.
The Otley Neighbourhood Plan
The Otley Neighbourhood Plan, put forward by Otley Town Council, states that this site ‘presents an opportunity for leisure and community uses, including outdoor pursuit facilities, as well as food and drink (where ancillary to primary uses)’.
The proposed scheme meets seven criteria set out for the development of the site in the plans ‘Policy GE4: The Former Bridge And Cattle Market Site’ as follows:
- Adequate car parking provision relative to end use needs.
- Views from the east across the site from Otley Bridge to the countryside beyond.
- Opportunities for the restoration and improvement of land which remains undeveloped.
- Flood storage capacity, in line with the sites, functional floodplain status.
This proposal therefore delivers precisely what the Neighbourhood Plan has called for – and without the need for public or community funding.
This is a unique opportunity to finally deliver on the town’s riverside vision – and with the support of local people and organisations, can be delivered.
The Otley Neighbourhood Plan
The Otley Neighbourhood Plan, put forward by Otley Town Council, states that this site ‘presents an opportunity for leisure and community uses, including outdoor pursuit facilities, as well as food and drink (where ancillary to primary uses)’.
The proposed scheme meets seven criteria set out for the development of the site in the plans ‘Policy GE4: The Former Bridge And Cattle Market Site’ as follows:
- Adequate car parking provision relative to end use needs.
- Views from the east across the site from Otley Bridge to the countryside beyond.
- Opportunities for the restoration and improvement of land which remains undeveloped.
- Flood storage capacity, in line with the sites, functional floodplain status.
This proposal therefore delivers precisely what the Neighbourhood Plan has called for – and without the need for public or community funding.
This is a unique opportunity to finally deliver on the town’s riverside vision – and with the support of local people and organisations, can be delivered.