23,562 sq ft city centre building acquired in ‘swift’ off-market deal

A Leeds city centre building has been snapped up in an off-market sale.

The 23,562 sq ft Wellington Park House building, on the junction of Wellington Street and Thirsk Row, has been acquired by Boultbee Brooks, the developers of Concordia Works in Leeds.

The London-based real estate company completed the deal in just four weeks from a private vendor. Wellington Park House has a 1,675 sq ft retail/leisure unit on the ground floor and six other 3,675 sq ft floors, suitable for offices. There is a split basement and upper level car parking for eight vehicles with the opportunity for a further six spaces.

Paul Fox of Leeds Surveyors Fox Lloyd Jones, who represented the private vendor, said: “The vendor had a specific need for an early and confidential sale and the purchaser acted swiftly and expertly, completing the deal within four weeks of first contact. We felt the purchaser’s aspirations of quality for the building were in line with my client’s wishes to sympathetically renovate and reinvent a building they had owned for many years.”

Wellington Park House was originally built in 1881 for Hepworth Tailors but was badly damaged by the Great Fire of Leeds in July 1906. It was subsequently completely rebuilt and continued to be occupied by Hepworths, the forerunners of Next, until the 1920s.

Eamon Fox, partner with global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, who advised Boultbee Brooks on this deal, added: “This is an extremely exciting development opportunity. Wellington Park House is an historic building in a prime city centre location.”

“Developers Boultbee Brooks have already demonstrated their commitment to excellence in Leeds with the stunning refurbishment of Concordia Works in Sovereign Street, which has won a number of prestigious awards.

“We have got a pretty blank canvas,” said Fox. “Boultbee Brooks have been looking for a suitable development opportunity now Concordia Works has been completed. And this is it. The building will be radically refurbished to provide a solution to the increasing demand for trendy, cutting-edge office space in Leeds.”

“The newest generation of workers expect their office to be an inspiring and enjoyable place to work.  Historically the preserve of technology and media firms, the new ideal office combines collaborative spaces with individual work areas, as well as providing amenities that encourage people to think of work as an extension of home.”