Next phase of works begin at £52m seven-floor office development

Steelwork erection has begun as construction progresses to deliver the next state-of-the art offices at Thorpe Park, Leeds.

The £52m, 133,118 sq ft building has been pre-let to leading credit management company, Lowell in a ground-breaking deal for the region.

The pre-let was announced earlier this year and represents the largest single out of town office deal ever recorded in West Yorkshire and the biggest property transaction in the Northern Powerhouse region over the last 18 months.

Scarborough Group International (SGI) expects to complete the headquarters by September 2022, bringing around 1,500 people to work at Thorpe Park Leeds.

The Park is already home to over 100 businesses employing around 5,500 people.

GMI Construction is the main contractor for the building which extends over seven floors with two levels of underground podium parking and amenity below.

Around 1,750 tonnes of hot rolled steel, 5,000 cubic meters of concrete and over 62,000 metres of wiring are being used for the project.

Approximately 56,000 cubic meters of bulk earth has been excavated and redistributed across the site, saving the need for 7,000 lorry loads to leave the site, reducing the need for 14,000 vehicle movements.

Designed by Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher, the building’s location and adjacent landscaped courtyard will create an anchor point for the next development plots that will be largely pedestrianised, providing easy access to The Springs retail and leisure park, Central Park and proposed 113 acre green park beyond.

Adam Varley, head of commercial at SGI, said: “We are delighted to see the progress with the new building as GMI continues to deliver on schedule despite the various challenges the pandemic has created, which recently includes sourcing materials.

“With considerable groundworks now completed we can now look forward to seeing the structure materialise at a rapid pace creating a new landmark as you approach Thorpe Park Leeds from the M1.

“We are working in close collaboration with Lowell to make sure we deliver a culturally fitting and inspiring new workplace that is also adaptable for the business’s future needs.

“Alongside the office building we are about to embark on an associated multi-storey car park to support the new phases of offices development at Thorpe Park Leeds.”

Lee Powell, divisional managing director of GMI, said: “We are delighted to have reached this major milestone.

“Thanks to great collaboration and the efforts of the team and our supply chain partners, we have reached this milestone on schedule and the project is on track for its completion date.”

Thorpe Park Leeds is an already well-established business location. More than 900,000 sq ft of office space is already built and The Springs retail and leisure park sits at the core of the mixed-use business community with a line-up of major high street brands.

Further development plans include the delivery of a 113-acre public park with sports and wellbeing facilities for the community of the Leeds City Region and beyond.