Permission granted to transform former city centre Debenhams
Consent has been given for the former Debenhams on Briggate, Leeds, to be turned into a new mixed-use asset.
Orchard Street Investment Management, a specialist commercial property investment manager, has confirmed it has received planning permission from Leeds City Council to transform the property.
The development will see the former department store repurposed to provide 124 studio apartments for students while the basement, ground and first floors will offer about 45,000 sq ft of flexible retail space.
The scheme, which is due to complete in the second half of 2023, will preserve the listed building’s architecture while adding a fifth floor, redeveloping the fourth floor and comprehensively refurbishing the interior to include a modern atrium running throughout the centre of the upper floors.
As part of the project, the building will incorporate a rooftop sky lounge and a courtyard to maximise the use of outside space to the benefit of the residents.
Orchard Street says the scheme has been designed to meet the demand from the city’s large student population, noting that more than 38,000 university students are currently unable to access purpose-built student accommodation.
Stace LLP has been appointed as project manager for the design and construction stages of the scheme, with Chapman Tolcher Carey Jones Studios retained as architects, Icis Design as structural engineers, Hollis Global as cost consultants, A Plus as M&E consultants and Savills as planning consultants.
The main contractor and student operator appointments will be announced in the coming weeks.
Marcus Mann, asset manager at Orchard Street, said: “Redeveloping the former Debenhams will give the property a new lease of life, while providing a high-quality offering that meets the rising need for purpose-built student accommodation in the city centre.
“This project will allow us to revitalise what remains a strategically placed asset whilst adding vibrancy to the area and complementing the commercial offer.”
