Leeds unveiled plans for Bridgewater Place in 2001, as an £80 million 30-storey tower with eight floors of office and retail space and the rest given over to flats and penthouses.

There were doubts at the time from local watchdogs about its potential wind and shade characteristics, but Leeds City Council was enthusiastic about having a true skyscraper downtown.

Aedas was nominated for the Carbuncle Cup in 2008 on its account, it was found in a 2023 study to be one of the top ten buildings worldwide called "ugly" most frequently on Twitter, and Owen Hatherley said in 2011 that it looks "very cheap," though he allowed that it "at least...has some personality.

One person suffered a torn liver and internal bleeding, and cuts requiring 11 stitches, and a buggy with a three-month-old child was pushed out into the road by a sharp gust.

[19][20] Leeds City Council lifted the safety restrictions at their next meeting, charging CPPI Bridgewater Place a total of £1.223 million with the cost of the road closures.