What is this urban giant

Behind some shops in urban Leics UK.
What is it please?

 

Welcome reddevil!
Looks like Paulownia tomentosa. Common name Foxglove tree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia_tomentosa

 

Thanks for that (the welcome and the suggestion!).
Similar but the leaves don't seem quite the right shape.
The paulownia seems quite a smooth regular edge whereas these are definitely more irregular.

 

Leaves can vary. Try this link.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...n-gb:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7SUNA_en-GB&sa=N&um=1

 

Looks like Paulownia to me too.

 

Got to say that one is much more like it but still not quite got the points at the 'jowls' if you see what I mean. I'm sure you have the correct family at least so that's great. Will attempt to monitor it to see what happens (not on my land so no real control).
TFYH

PS my other half has it down as an Indian bean tree (same family I believe),

 

Paulownia is in the Scrophulariaceae, while Catalpa is in Bignoniaceae.
Paulownia leaves are opposite, in pairs and the leaves are soft.
Catalpa bignonioides leaves are opposite but open as a group of three. This pic shows what I mean.

 

The specimen asked about is without question a paulownia. The kite-like leaf shape of young trees diminishes as they age, so that eventually most of the tree is furnished by less- or non-angular ones.

 

Great stuff - thanks guys!

 

Good find, not often planted in Britain!