Client story

Putting employees at heart of major Leeds property development

A City centre mixed-use scheme has created an urban development where employees want to work, and companies want to do business.

Location

Leeds, UK 

Size

1.5 million sq ft

Ambition

Providing work environments and amenities that can help companies attract the best talent is more important than ever. MEPC and JLL worked together to develop a landmark mixed-use scheme in Leeds city centre that could do just that.  

How we worked together

Our aim was to create an urban development where businesses and workers wanted to be, within a short walking distance of Leeds city station. The solution was Wellington Place, which is capable of delivering over 1.5 million sq ft of high-quality space in the city’s west end.

Together we looked at how we could make this vision a reality. We provided market facing, occupier-focused advice and expertise as planning consent was developed. 

MEPC’s focus has always been to put its customers first and make Wellington Place, a favoured location for businesses in central Leeds.  Working with MEPC, we began a strategy to attract occupiers for the next phase of buildings.

At this point, back in 2010 Wellington Place only comprised of two older buildings, a multi-storey car park and a hotel.  It has evolved today to include high-quality public open spaces, bars, restaurants and coffee shops as well as offering the kind of modern office space in Leeds that is appealing to workers.

We agreed a pre-letting in 2011 to Shulmans LLP, a local firm of solicitors.  Working closely with MEPC, we convinced Shulmans the new Wellington Place offices would be “ahead of their time” and a fitting location to grow their business.

Following this more lettings and pre-lettings followed including; Brewin Dolphin, Squire Patton Boggs, Equifax, Hestview Ltd and HMRC.

New buildings began being developed almost annually, with No 6, No 5 and No 3 Wellington Place coming to the market.

Following the success, MEPC then secured the major 380,000 sq ft Government Hub at Wellington Place, the largest office transaction outside London in 20 years at the time.

We have advised on many development and letting projects, enabling us to capitalise on our existing knowledge in this field and our UK market insights to advise MEPC appropriately.

Resolution  

By working together with the team at MEPC we continue to successfully deliver their ambition. Together we achieved significant lettings and pre-lettings to leading businesses. Alongside the biggest ever commercial property letting in Leeds to the Government Hub, providing a major economic boost for the city.

Over a period of 10 years almost 1 million sq ft has, or is in line, to be developed. The latest chapter will see a further 150,000 sq ft being built - No 4 Wellington Place and the majority of this has now been pre-let to Sky Bet.

Transforming city centres

Looking to create a high-quality commercial property scheme?