MEPC selects Shepherd for 10 Wellington Place construction

SHEPHERD Construction has won a £5.5m contract to build a new 35,000 sq ft office development at MEPC’s Wellington Place scheme in Leeds.

The 12-month contract will see York-based Shepherd deliver the BREEAM excellent-rated five-storey building, together with landscaping around a new public square.

10 Wellington Place is thought to be the first new build grade A office development in Leeds city centre for five years.

It is the hoped the construction of the building, which will see law firm Shulmans take 15,000 sq ft within it and move from another city centre location, will accelerate further development across the site.

Rick de Blaby, chief executive of MEPC, said: “Construction of 10 Wellington Place marks the start of the next phase of development, with planning permission granted for a further 300,000 sq ft of office space here in the heart of Leeds’s West End.

“Like MEPC, Shepherd is a long-established company which has become an industry leader by delivering the highest levels of quality and by working closely with its clients at all stages.”

Work on the building – which was designed by CJCT – is due to commence next month and is expected to last 12 months.

Colin Sargeant, of Shepherd Construction, said: “As well as delivering much-needed high quality new office space in Leeds city centre, this scheme is a landmark development for Leeds, which will also create excellent retail facilities on the ground floor and a new public square.

“More importantly, 10 Wellington Place will mark a turning point in the development of Leeds city centre, with more to come after several years of little to no new activity.”

Two phases of Wellington Place have already been completed with occupiers including accountancy firms RSM Tenon and PwC, insurance company Allianz, consultancy Tower Watson, law firm Irwin Mitchell and BSkyB.

Planning permission was granted for 10 Wellington Place in September 2010 as part of a major mixed-use development to create a five star destination on the largest site under single ownership in Leeds.

That permission includes a further 106,000 sq ft of office space at number 3 Wellington Place, which would be the next building to be developed, 155,000 sq ft at 4 Wellington Place and a further 59,000 sq ft at 5 Wellington Place.

Mr de Blaby added: “Starting work on 10 Wellington Place is an exciting moment for us, and for Leeds city centre, but is only the first step towards developing the rest of the Wellington Place estate.

“We are already in talks with several potential occupiers for some of the other developments and look forward to being able to continue to build our business community.”

The agent that acted on behalf of MEPC in this transaction was Jeff Pearey at Jones Lang LaSalle. DTZ is a joint letting agent.

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