Refurb plan for Leeds landmark

MOORFIELD Group has unveiled plans for a major refurbishment of West Riding House in Leeds just weeks after buying the landmark building in one of region’s biggest property deals this year.

The company intends to carry out a “significant upgrade” to the landmark building to reposition it in the Leeds office market.

Leeds-based Holbeck Land, which identified the opportunity for Moorfield Group, is providing asset management for West Riding House which also has 65,000 sq ft of retail space and a 437-space multi-storey car park.

The Leeds office agency teams of property consultants King Sturge and Savills have been appointed to market the 19-storey property which currently has 42,750 sq ft of vacant high-specification office space out of a total of 76,000 sq ft.

Jonathan Gale, partner in King Sturge’s office agency team, said: “Details of the property upgrade are currently being finalised but are likely to initially centre on upgrading West Riding House’s entrance and common areas to lift the profile of the building in the Leeds office market in line with its superb location.”

West Riding House was bought by Moorfield Group in February for an undisclosed sum after the previous owner defaulted on its mortgage agreement and the property was placed into receivership by Anglo Irish Bank Corporation.

Savills partner Paul Fairhurst said: “Typical floor plates on available office space are 5,100 sq ft, making them ideal for corporate and professional business, such as legal and financial, and the public sector.

“Our aim is to reposition this building, which is at the heart of many local amenities, at the forefront of the Leeds office market and attract more quality tenants. Many Leeds office leases are due for renewal in the next 12 months and we are already experiencing interest in this property.”

Current occupiers of the building include Capita Business Services, the Court Service, Badenock & Clark and actuaries Barnett Waddingham.