How Graham Edward helped to revive communities across Yorkshire

Graham Edward, the managing director of Edward Architecture, has seen days of boom and bust. He’s spent almost 40 years working with blue chip clients, providing property and planning advice for schemes which have brought prosperity to communities around West Yorkshire.

"At school I was always good at maths and technical drawing, so I wanted a career where I could use both,’’ he recalled. “On leaving school in 1982, the first job I got was as an office junior at an architecture practice in Leeds. I started off doing the sandwich run and cleaning the boss's car.”

Mr Edward displayed energy and ambition and was soon entrusted with tasks where he could display his passion for design.

"The practice had a lot of projects running at the same time,’’ he said “I started working on small projects, learning on the job to working on bigger ones. One project I was particularly proud of was the WH Smith in the heart of Leeds, which opened in 1987. I felt a real sense of pride to be able to walk past this development and know that I had helped to design it.”

A time traveller from 40 years ago would hardly recognise parts of Leeds today; especially around new business districts like Wellington Place, which have been built on ground which had been empty for years. Mr Edward believes strong civic leadership has played a major role in helping Leeds achieve its potential. The universities are also providing a talent pool of skilled labour.

"Leeds in the 1980s was a very different place; nobody, for example, lived in the city centre in those days,’’said Mr Edward. “Leeds has come a long way in terms of its infrastructure and shopping. The projects keep getting bigger. One of the reasons for Leeds' success is the fact it has a well run council which has thought long term.

"You have to contrast this with the large number of housing ministers Britain has had over the last 30 years.

"Leeds has had a plan and stuck to it and kept growing. We have 60,000 students who come to Leeds to study every year with a 35 per cent retention rate; they are providing the talent for the future. Leeds has become a business and cultural hub for West Yorkshire.”

Thirty years ago, Mr Edward was probably best known for his work in the Victorian village of Saltaire in West Yorkshire, which was built by the entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Titus Salt. Instead of retiring to a country estate to enjoy his wealth, Sir Titus decided to invest in a giant mill and create an industrial community around it, with workers’ housing which boasted a proper system of drainage and a water supply. Each house had a private lavatory and the streets were built to be open ended to let in the sun and air. In the early 1990s, Mr Edward won a Civic Trust award for his work on listed buildings in Saltaire, which was undergoing a revival at the time as a tourist destination.

"I'm proud of the work I carried out in Saltaire,’’ he said “I worked on a scheme which turned a group of rundown shops into an antiques emporium. Sir Titus Salt was born in Morley, the same town as me. He became such a powerful person but also gave something back to the community.”

Mr Edward decided to to set up his own practice in 2005 because he had the expertise, contacts, a supportive family and no debts.

"I still believe that you really gain from giving something back to the community. We used the Social Value engine to estimate that we give something like £2.8m back in social value. I also carry out pro bono work on the Holbeck Viaduct Project (in Leeds), which aims to use the disused viaduct as a walkway, cycle and pathway. The long term aim is to create pop up points along the viaducts and businesses will grow around it.

"So if you came to Leeds to watch Leeds United for example, you could get off the train at Leeds railway station and walk on the viaduct to the ground. It's partially inspired by the New York highline (a public park programme in the heart of New York). It could be one of the fantastic things about Leeds.”

He added: “Last year, the schemes we were working on included a total of over 15,000 houses at all design stages. We have helped to provide the masterplan for sites on behalf of clients including Barnsley Council, the Church Commissioners and Yorkshire Water. Around 75 per cent of our work is in the North of England.”

He has great faith in the long term potential for modular housing.

"Growing numbers of housebuilder are using modular building systems,’’ he said. “The quality of modular housing is unbelievable; everything is quality checked at the factory. There are also big benefits for people who live nearby. Modular building limits the disruption and there is hardly any wastes or skips on site. Building costs in London have risen massively. It is now cheaper to build a modular apartment in Hull and deliver it to London than to build it in the traditional way on site in London. Modular construction wins every time when it comes to costs and quality.”

Like his hero Sir Titus, he dreams of leaving a long term legacy.

"I would love it if everybody who worked for me could look back and say, 'That guy taught me a lot and I went on to achieve bigger and better things with his help.’ I want the practice to flourish long after I've retired."