[1] However, as the number of court cases in Leeds grew, it became necessary to commission a dedicated courthouse, both for criminal and civil matters.

The site selected by the Lord Chancellor's Department was based around a narrow lane known as "Oxford Street" which branched off Westgate to the north.

[2] The Leeds Combined Court Centre was designed by the Property Services Agency in the modern style, built in red brick at a cost of £9.7 million,[3] and was completed in 1982.

[4][5][6] The design of the complex involved an asymmetrical main frontage of eight bays facing onto Westgate.

The complex, which was intended to accommodate the Crown Court (for criminal cases) and the County Court (for civil cases), was built with five courtrooms and was subsequently supplemented by additional accommodation at Coverdale House in East Parade providing another seven courtrooms.