Milestone completed at flagship city office scheme
Construction is underway at City Square House, a 140,000 sq ft office building near Leeds Railway Station by developers MRP.
Design & Build Contractors, McAleer & Rushe, began construction in May 2021 and the first construction milestone has now been achieved with the erection of its first tower crane.
Completion of City Square House is planned for summer 2023 and the opening will coincide with the completion of extensive public realm improvement works at City Square.
Law firm DLA Piper has signed a deal to take 83,000 sq ft of prime office space at City Square House in the largest private sector pre-let deal in Leeds in the past 20 years.
Eamon Fox, partner and head of office agency at global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, who is advising MRP, commented: “It is tremendous to see this flagship building slowly taking shape, providing a very genuine cause to be optimistic about the commercial property sector in Yorkshire.
“City Square House is the iconic new office development that the Leeds market has been waiting for.
“It is in a prime position, just off City Square and next to Leeds Station, and the remaining available space of 55,000 sq ft will help to address the pressing need for quality Grade A office space in the city centre.”
Angus Montieth, development director at MRP, said: “We have been quietly going about our business of building the best office building in Leeds with sustainability and wellbeing at the heart of its design.
“City Square House office will quickly take shape during 2022 and it will slot into place as the final piece of the City Square regeneration plan.”
Fox added: “The speculative development of City Square House was another telling reminder that the death of the office, because of the pandemic, was a myth.
“I was fascinated – and reassured – to read the news that Google is backing a return to the office with an investment that will expand its UK capacity by 50% and reinvigorate the work environment.
“The Leeds office market is incredibly strong, whatever the doom-mongers might say. Just watch the deals roll in this year.”
