Multi-Million Pound Redevelopment Proposed For Central Leeds

Leeds City Council’s planning chiefs are to debate the initial proposals for a multi-million pound redevelopment project in the heart of Leeds city centre. It would replace the Lumiere site in Whitehall Road and Wellington Street that was abandoned in 2009 when developer Kevin Linfoot went into administration.

If permission is granted to developer Roydhouse Properties, this new 225,000 sq ft project, named ‘Central Square’, would provide space for up to 2,500 office workers over 11 floors. It would also include restaurants and bars, a winter garden, a sky garden, 128 parking spaces and a gym.

Mark Barnes, from Marrico Asset Management on behalf of Roydhouse Properties Central Square, said, “Our plans are to make Central Square the best commercial building in Leeds providing exclusive office space of the highest quality to blue chip companies who want to be in Leeds city centre.”

He added, “Leeds has seen a solid level of activity and the year- to-date volume of new office lettings is already 33% higher than the previous full year total. Take-up has already substantially exceeded the five year average of 380,000 sq ft and it is anticipated that year end city centre volumes will be around 600,000 sq ft; potentially the highest level on record since 2000.”

If given the go ahead, construction could begin in summer 2014 and reach completion by mid-2016. As well as providing Leeds city centre with much needed Grade A office space, it would stand triumphantly atop Leeds’ biggest recession victim, making a powerful statement about the city’s recovery.

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