Multi-million pound office refurb to get underway
THE regeneration of the Bond Court area in Leeds will take a major step forward next week.
Work is to start on site to transform 9 Bond Court into a Grade A office building.
The refurbishment is the latest piece in the jigsaw of the regeneration of Bond Court, which is rapidly becoming the finest office location in the city, according to global property consultancy Knight Frank.
Alex Duckett, associate in the Leeds office of Knight Frank, explained: “Every single building on Bond Court is having a refurbishment, creating a superb new office quarter in the heart of Leeds.
“The new 10-storey, 90-bedroom Dakota Hotel, which is replacing the brutalist Greek Street car park and will look down over Bond Court, will provide a whole new dimension to the area. This will be complemented by the facelifts for Capitol House and Minerva House.
“Meanwhile the new student housing development at Pennine House Bond Court, Wilton Developments’ 2 Bond Court, formerly known as Midland House, and the recently-purchased Aquis House, are all combining to create a new-look quarter, which is enhanced by the work done to the public realm area in the centre of Bond Court.
“Finally, the iconic 9 Bond Court, the jewel in the crown of the whole of Bond Court, begins a comprehensive multi-million pound refurbishment next week. The flagship Grade A office building has 15,500 sq ft of Grade A office space to lease on the third, fourth and fifth floors of the building, with suites available from 1,600 sq ft upwards,” explained Mr Duckett.
The building, which comprises 68,230 sq ft of office space, is let to a number of professional firms including global property consultancy Knight Frank, Stewarts Law, Redmayne-Bentley and Begbies Traynor.
David Loudon of stockbrokers Redmayne-Bentley, which has offices on the ground, sixth and seventh floors, said: “We are delighted with our relocation to Bond Court. The excellent accommodation and high-profile city centre presence has impressed both clients and staff. Bond Court provides the ideal location to grow our business further.”
A planning application has been approved by Leeds City Council for a new entrance to the building and floor-to ceiling glazing, allowing work to start on site.
Duckett said: “This extensive refurbishment, which features substantial interior and exterior work, is making 9 Bond Court one of the finest central office buildings in the city. It was already impressive, with its height dominating the central Leeds cityscape, but it will now be transformed into a statement building.
“The refurbishment work, which includes for two refurbished office floors of approximately 5,800 sq ft and lobbies; a new reception; a new entrance; new basement shower facilities; and floor-to-ceiling glazing, is on-going and will be complete by July next year.
“Bond Court, once an ugly duckling, is now becoming the new heart of the professional core in Leeds.
“The new-look 9 Bond Court reinforces this location in the market place, completely changing people’s perception of the building. The office accommodation will be second to none, perfectly in tune with the Leeds office occupier both from a size and also rental perspective, with rents in the region of £24 per sq ft,” he added.
Knight Frank and Savills are the joint marketing agents for 9 Bond Court, which was recently bought by Cordea Savills, on behalf of a client, from F&C REIT Asset Management.
