Design and deliver a piece or pieces of public art which are integrated with the functional public realm along the Woodhouse Lane Gateway within the public highway boundary.

Background

The Woodhouse Lane Gateway (WLG) project aims to improve how all road users get around the city from the city centre to the universities, Hyde Park and Woodhouse.

This area is already heavily used by pedestrians, cyclists and buses compared to other parts of the city and region, and the project seeks to enhance the public realm to improve the quality of place.

The public art commission forms part of these public realm enhancements.

Location:

The scheme area covers a segment of north-west Leeds, alongside Woodhouse Lane, between the city centre core and north-western end of the city centre.

The scheme area is a gateway to the cluster of educational and healthcare institutions on the north side of the city centre core.

The Woodhouse Lane Gateway also forms the southern end of the A660 corridor, and so acts as a gateway to the city centre for people travelling from the inner-city suburbs of Hyde Park and Headingley, the outer suburbs of West Park, Cookridge, Adel and Lawnswood, and the town of Otley.

Programme:

The scheme is subject to approval of the Full Business Case by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority which is expected in February 2026.

The construction contract is expected to be awarded in Spring 2026 and we estimate it will take approximately 12 months to complete the construction works.

Installation of public art will be programmed depending on the type of artwork and location, we expect this would be in 2027.

Brief

Design and deliver a piece or pieces of public art which are integrated with the functional public realm along the Woodhouse Lane Gateway within the public highway boundary.

This could comprise:

• Bespoke street furniture art pieces e.g. seats, cycle stands, bollards.
• Additions to standard street furniture e.g. sculptural armrests, engraving.
• Additions to hard surfacing e.g. inlaid pieces, engraving.

A plan showing the scheme design and locations of proposed functional public realm elements (seats, bollards, cycle stands, bins, hard surfacing) and some examples of existing public art in Leeds are also provided above for reference.

The piece or pieces of public art could use the proposed locations or add new ones, and the ideas and examples are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive – we are looking for something new and unique and are open to any types of art which meet the requirements of the brief.

Materials, colours and techniques are not predetermined but must be suitable for a busy urban outdoor location, easy to clean, vandalism resistant, and long lasting.

Materials could include: stone, metal, bronze, durable plastics or other man made and UV resistant materials

There is no specified theme, but reference may be made to the past, present or future of the gateway, the whole route or specific areas or stories within it.

The design must be inclusive and accessible to all.

The Council will provide specific advice on requirements based on the type of public art proposed.

Maintenance and cleansing will be carried out by the council as part of normal highway maintenance but ideally the piece/s will require little or no maintenance.

The artist will be expected to work with the council to develop designs that require minimal maintenance.

There will be 1-3 separate artist commissions, depending on submission results.

Budget

The total budget for 1-3 artist commissions is up to £50,000 to include:

• Design fees
• Materials and fabrication
• Installation and fixing
• Travel and meeting costs
• Any other expenses incurred in the design and production process.

Maintenance and cleansing are not included in the budget and will be covered by the council.

Artist requirements

Ideally based in Leeds or Yorkshire, but this is not essential.

Collaboration with the council and stakeholders along the route to refine and agree the final design.

The artist/s must carry appropriate insurances, which will be available for scrutiny by the council at the time of appointment.

We particularly welcome submissions which increase representation of under-represented groups in public art, either through what is created or the artist who is creating it, or both.

Submission process

The selection panel for Stage 1 and 2 will comprise Leeds City Council City Development officers from Highways, Culture, Urban Design, City Centre Management.

Stage 1

Submission of CV and portfolio/examples of previous work with brief descriptions. This is expected to be digital but hard copies can be submitted on request.

Stage 2

Shortlisted artists will be invited to interview which will include discussion of initial design ideas. This can be online via Teams or Zoom or in person with expenses paid up to £100.

Timeframe

Brief released: Friday 21 November

Deadline for Stage 1 submissions: Monday 9 February

Stage 2 interviews: w/c Monday 23 February (subject to Full Business Case approval)

Installation: 2027