Transformational plans for Northern Civic Quarter approved

A £62m scheme to develop a business and lifestyle destination in Leeds city centre has been given planning permission.

The Northern Civic Quarter plans to transform the listed former council buildings off Millennium Square into 54,000 sq ft of office space around the Thoresby and Leonardo buildings.

Ide Real Estate chief executive Ronan Faherty

Two hotels – a 173-bed development in 2 Great George Street and a new-build 166-bed hotel – will be delivered alongside investment in the public realm.

Idé Real Estate has secured planning permission and listed building consent from Leeds City Council’s City Plans Panel for its development, subject to a section 106 agreement with the council.

Ronan Faherty, chief executive of Idé Real Estate, said: “We believe Leeds is one of the best investment opportunities in the UK today with its welcoming people, strong institutions, dynamic business community and vibrant cultural life, a position endorsed by Channel 4’s decision to locate its national headquarters in the city.”

The site neighbours the main public square and forms the gateway to the emerging Innovation District.

The development is expected to create 355 jobs during the three-year construction phase and around 1,000 once the site is fully operational.

The provision of new serviced office space supports the growth of business start-ups and scale-ups in Leeds, a need identified by the council in its development plan.

Leeds is also seeing significant growth in business and leisure tourism with around 30m visitors per year but lacks premium visitor accommodation.

A planned 166-bed hotel in Leeds’ Northern Civic Quarter

Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We are very pleased to see approval given to this scheme, which will revitalise these historic listed buildings and provide significant new investment in our city centre.

“It will enhance our hotel offer, create over a thousand new jobs and support new and growing businesses.”

Site preparation is set to begin in spring with major development work underway by autumn. It is scheduled for completion by summer 2022.

Planning consultancy Turley advised on planning, strategic communications, sustainability, economics and heritage aspects of the development proposals.