Work starts on listed building in Leeds’ Northern Quarter
Work is now underway to bring an iconic, Grade II listed building in Leeds city centre back to life.
Developer Avenir Works has started a major redevelopment project at Centenary House on North Street, the latest investment in Leeds’ burgeoning Northern Quarter, with work due for completion in Summer 2019.
The prominent building is set to comprise 80 high-quality, design-led residential apartments, with supporting facilities to enable residents to live work and study in luxury including a concierge service, workout space, study, office and meeting rooms. The major alteration works, which include converting the existing three-storey building and demolishing and rebuilding the extension, will also provide one ground floor commercial unit.
The property, which was formerly owned by Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People, has been largely vacant for the past three years, with planning permission granted in January 2018.
The developer specialises in the acquisition, development and investment of land and property to create bespoke residential accommodation for professional and student markets, as well as mixed-use schemes and apart hotels for both sale and retention throughout the UK. Former milestone projects within Leeds include the luxury riverside loft apartment development and warehouse conversion at 53 The Calls, and The Heritage Collection Leeds, comprising 135 units both new build and as a conversion of the former bio-chemistry buildings of the University of Leeds.
Aimar Lombard-Natheer at Avenir Works said: “We are delighted to be starting work at Centenary House and contributing to the development and future success of Leeds’ Northern Quarter. This is a thriving and in-demand area of the city, and through the creation of 80 bespoke apartments we can help to satisfy the need for quality accommodation locally whilst also preserving and reviving a beautiful and historic building. Having grown up in Leeds, the city is incredibly important to me personally and professionally, and in the pipeline, we are set to build more than 1,000 new units in the city in the foreseeable future.”
Avenir Works instructed Leeds-based law firm, Shulmans LLP, to handle all legal proceedings around the project. Dawn Carlisle, partner in the commercial property unit, said: “It is fantastic to see the investment in Centenary House and the opportunity this provides to continue to bolster one of Leeds’ most vibrant and exciting central zones.”
