Member Article

Keepmoat Property Services strike the right note with Kaiser Chiefs

A national repairs and maintenance company struck the right note with the Kaiser Chiefs when they carried out work to create disabled access to an iconic city music studio.

Keepmoat Property Services donated materials and labour for free in order to install disabled access ramps at The Old Chapel music studios in Holbeck, which has helped launch many of Leeds’ most successful music acts including Embrace, Kaiser Chiefs and The Pigeon Detectives.

The works will ensure adults and children with mobility problems or learning difficulties “Never miss a beat” or a rehearsal session at the venue which is home to The Old Chapel Music School. In addition The Old Chapel is also used by dozens of other less famous bands and club acts across the city.

The access works have been welcomed by musicians including wheelchair user Brian Spencer, lead singer of bands such as The Blades, The Interiorz and The Sunshine Bus.

The opportunity to improve access to the Old Chapel came about as Keepmoat Property Services is currently working on a 20 year contract to maintain 1,245 properties in Holbeck, Beeston Hill and Little London. In the initial four years the contract also sees the major regeneration of these areas and the construction of 388 new homes by Keepmoat. As part of this Keepmoat has launched the ‘Grow With Us’ campaign to work with the local community and schools to create opportunities and improve the areas over the next two decades.

The Old Chapel is owned by Network Rail but is managed by Mark Hubbard on behalf of the Leeds Music Trust and relies on the good will and support from bands such as Kaiser Chiefs to keep it going.

As a company which is passionate about community engagement, Keepmoat Property Services, is now working with the Leeds Music Trust to develop a five year wish list of projects and maintenance for the building to ensure it stays part of the fabric of the Leeds music scene for many years to come.

Mark Hubbard, CEO at Leeds Music Trust, said: “The Old Chapel is a unique community facility which has not only helped to launch some of Leeds’ best-known bands, but also offers well-used and much-needed studio and rehearsal space for musicians across the city.

“I’m immensely grateful to Keepmoat Property Services for helping to create disabled access at The Old Chapel for the first time in our 22 year history. We are excited about working with Keepmoat over the coming years in order to make The Old Chapel even better.”

Keepmoat Property Services, based in Bowling Green Terrace in Holbeck, is responsible for maintaining more than 100,000 homes nationally and completing more than 250,000 responsive repairs each year in order to create safe and comfortable homes.

Helen Francis, Business Development Director of Keepmoat Property Services, said: “The Old Chapel is an institution of the Leeds music scene and we were more than happy to donate our labour and materials in order to improve access for the whole community.

“As a company that is passionate about regeneration we are proud to be involved in making a difference to the local community through our ‘Grow with us’ campaign. It was a real pleasure for the team to meet the Kaiser Chiefs and we now plan to auction off the autographed T-shirt in order to raise more funds to help The Old Chapel.”

The Old Chapel was the first purpose built rehearsal studio in Leeds, opening in 1982 as Parkside Studios in Armley. It later moved to an old Wesleyan chapel building at Czar Street, Holbeck, becoming The Old Chapel studios in 1992.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Walker .