Leeds sees record levels of construction activity across 2018

Leeds experienced “outstanding” levels of construction throughout 2018, with new highs achieved in the Health and Education and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation sectors (PBSA), according to a crane survey.

Deloitte Real Estate’s annual Leeds Crane Survey recorded 21 new construction starts on site, which was only bettered in 2007 when 31 new schemes were announced.

The number of residential units under construction across the city centre is also at the highest level since 2007.

The Health and Education sector saw 743,000 sq ft of floor space under construction, with new facilities being brought forward by Leeds Beckett University, Leeds College of Building, Leeds College of Art and the new Leeds City College Campus at Quarry Hill.

There were two new starts in the education sector and one in healthcare across the year.

Student accommodation has also recorded record levels of development activity with four new starts, the highest since the Leeds Crane Survey began. These contributed towards the 2,768 student accommodation bed spaces currently under construction, four times the annual average since 2007.

At 804,257 sq ft, the office sector has the second largest quantum of office floorspace under construction in the history of the Leeds Crane Survey, bettered only by the 820,247 sq ft recorded in 2015. This was coupled with seven new starts on site.

The survey reports three new starts, which set to deliver 533 units into the pipeline, bringing the total to 2,232 units under construction. Five of the developments under construction are ‘Build-to-Rent’, which will be the city’s first purpose built Build-to- Rent units.

Nolan Tucker, director at Deloitte Real Estate in Leeds, said: “The results of the 2019 Crane Survey are outstanding for Leeds and paint a clear picture of a future-focused city gearing up for the next phase in its development.

“The investment in Health and Education facilities, combined with new office accommodation that can meet the needs of a wider range of occupiers, and the emergence of the city centre Build-to-Rent market is establishing the perfect environment to support significant economic growth.”

Roger Marsh OBE, chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), added: “It’s an exciting time for the Leeds City Region. Wakefield has won £4.4m from the Cultural Development Fund, Bradford is about to host the cutting-edge Yorkshire Games Festival, Nexus the £40m research and innovation hub at the University of Leeds is under construction whilst GAMA Healthcare is opening a £4 million tech lab in Halifax.

“There is a collective momentum and commitment to partnership at work. I’m delighted to see this confidence reflected in the 2019 Crane Survey. Demand is strong with significant investments to be announced in the near future.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close