First letting at No 1 Leeds
ONE of Yorkshire’s most high profile office buildings – which has been marketed to prospective occupiers for more than two years – has agreed its first tenant.
i2 Office has taken a lease for 14,647 sq ft of space at No 1 Leeds.
The move further expands i2 Office’s network of business centres and represents the firm’s first presence in Yorkshire.
The company provides serviced offices, virtual offices, meeting rooms and disaster recovery services to companies across the UK and is planning to launch a cafe as well as commercial space within the building.
Philip Grace, chief executive of i2 Office, said: “Leeds represents an important step for i2 Office, expanding our network and increasing our UK geographic coverage.
“No 1 Leeds fits the i2 Office mould perfectly, offering prestigious premises in a prime city centre location. We are delighted to be working with IVG and are confident that this new centre will be popular with Leeds’ businesses.”
Elizabeth Ridler, partner with global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, who market No 1 Leeds, said: “i2 chose this special building above all others in Leeds because it contains so many desirable, hi-spec features in a bright working environment.”
Richard Thornton, partner with King Sturge in Leeds, co-marketing agents with Knight Frank, said: “i2’s move is a fabulous endorsement of No 1 Leeds and will provide an invaluable resource with its cafe to future occupiers of the building.”
The 122,000 sq ft No 1 Leeds, formerly Latitude Red, on Whitehall Road, was sold by its developer BAM Properties to IVG in 2007.
It has been empty since its completion, despite a rebrand and change of agent.
When completed, it was seen as perfect accomodation for large occupiers, including public sector organisations, but the recession led to relocations being abandoned as austerity measures took effect.
Knight Frank and King Sturge represented owners IVG while Jones Lang LaSalle advised i2 Office.
BAM recently secured planning permission for a 115,000 sq ft seven-storey office development near No 1 Leeds.
The building will be known as Latitude Blue but construction work won’t start on site until an agreement with an occupier has been made.
