Trio of grade-II listed Leeds buildings to be sold for mixed-use development
A trio of grade II-listed buildings in Leeds is set to be acquired.
Mixed-use specialist Idé Real Estate is planning major development for the sites which include the Leonardo Building, Rossington Street, the Thoresby society building on Commercial Street and a Great George Street site.
Great George Street, a detached building constructed as a school in around 1890, will be transformed into a 140-room hotel with a rooftop extension and potential for a further 200 rooms in a new site on the current carpark.
The other two buildings will be refurbished as offices.
The three buildings contain 86,000 sq ft of space, with the potential for “significant” additional development say developers.
The search for a development partner was launched to market in October 2016 at the MIPIM UK 2016 event.
Leeds City Council currently uses the sites as part of its city centre office complex.
All staff will be relocated to the new Merrion House. Refurbishment and redevelopment will likely commence at the end of 2018 following the planning process.
The trio of buildings sit within the planned Leeds Innovation District, which comprises the main city centre campuses of the University of Leeds, Leeds Becket University, and potentially the Leeds College of Art, Leeds City College and the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust’s Leeds General Infirmary site.
Cllr Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We are delighted to announce Idé as the preferred purchaser for the site. The plans they have brought forward perfectly matched the aspirations of the city and the requirements of a gateway site to the Innovation District.
“These buildings occupy key city centre sites and it’s vital that they are developed in a strategic way, to continue to stimulate the city’s economy and enhance services for the people of Leeds.”
Ronan Faherty, CEO at Idé Real Estate, commented: “Our vision for the scheme was to deliver high-quality, desirable and distinguished developments that match the location, history and significance of the buildings, with the future requirements and ambitions of one of the fastest growing cities in the UK.
“Sitting in the business and civic quarters of the city, and also in the newly planned Innovation District, and the First Direct Arena the complex is ideally located for business occupiers and visitors alike. We look forward to sharing the future development plans as they progress.”
