Abandoned former school is being turned into apartments and offices

Redevelopment of an abandoned former Victorian girls’ school in Leeds is due to be completed by developer Priestley Homes.

The project, brought to life with funds from property lender Together, will bring 83 new city centre apartments to Great George Street as well as eight ground floor offices.

Residents will have concierge services, a gym and a landscaped communal rooftop garden.

Priestley Homes, which specialises in regeneration of historic buildings, put in a planning application for the project in 2021.

Initially a Victorian girl’s school, the property was later used by the local council as office space.

In 2018, plans were submitted to convert the site into a 173-bed hotel, but these were never finalised. The site then sat empty for three years.

Nathan Priestley, CEO of Priestley Group, said: “As a Leeds-based business, we have a good understanding of the needs and demands of the city.

“We have seen a boom in student housing projects across the area, and whilst these are important to address the country’s shortage, they are not the only sector that needs attention.

“High-end developments, like ours on Great George Street, are severely lacking. As more people work outside the capital, either remotely or commuting just a couple of days a week, there is big demand for housing of this kind.

“Most of the flats sold incredibly quickly, which shows the appetite is there for developments like this.

“It is a travesty that a building with so much potential like this on Great George Street was left empty for years before we came along.

“Up and down the UK, there are numerous similar properties in the same state.

“It has been brilliant to partner again with Together on this project. They have been working hard to raise awareness of the issue across the UK of abandoned and disused properties standing empty.”

Elliot Vure, director of corporate sales at Together, added: “Our new research has shown the shocking number of properties across the county that are currently empty and unused.

“To see Priestley taking advantage of a beautiful, historic building like this one on Great George Street is excellent, and demonstrates the value to developers who embrace projects like this.

“Our campaign to encourage developers to seek out ‘hidden gems’ has highlighted the value that can be found through them, and this development – as well as the other projects that Priestley specialises in – is the perfect example.

“It’s something we hope to continue supporting them and other developers with into the future.”