Because of its location, the economy and employment picture in Little Woodhouse is closely linked to the city centre, universities and hospital. A significant part of the economy in the area is the contribution of the student market which forms 76% of the local population. This has ensured the survival of some local convenience stores in term time though a low period over the summer. Takeaways however thrive. Only one traditional public house remains (the Fox and Newt on Burley Street), while others have closed (The Queen, The Faversham and most recently The Highland).
Situated close to the city centre, Josephs Well was formerly a clothing mill employing 3000 workers. It now houses a range of organisations including health related businesses. At the eastern end of Burley Road a cluster of buildings provide telecommunications services.
The primary area for commercial and employment activity is the corridor between Burley Road and Kirkstall Road. These are arterial routes carrying large volumes of traffic to and from the west of the city centre. Kirkstall Road has three large sites occupied by ITV and several other sites are within the creative media sector, contributing to the wider economy of Leeds as well as to Little Woodhouse. Other sites include hotels, restaurants, a casino, a brewery and bar, snooker centre and fire station.
Linking to the Woodsley Road Local Centre, Burley Road has a mixed economy of small shops and services, mostly food and takeaways but also others such as garage and courier services. Burley Street has the one surviving public house, the Fox and Newt, and Burley Road the single surviving school in the area, Rosebank Primary School.
The south side of Burley Road and the north side of Kirkstall Road both retain a green corridor of grass, trees and shrubs, in part interrupted by carparks. There is an opportunity for any new developments to retain and improve this positive aspect for air improvement and flood protection as well as offering exercise and leisure for workers and visitors. The development of several large sites on the south side of Kirkstall Road will increase pedestrian and cycle traffic in the area and offer the opportunity of access to blue space on the riverside.
Little Woodhouse Neighbourhood Plan 