Hunt is on for builder to start work on council HQ

TOWN Centre Securities (TCS) has started the hunt for a builder to work on the Merrion House project.

The property group and Leeds City Council agreed the largest office pre-let deal in Leeds city centre in more than 20 years at the end of last year. Now, tenders will be invited early next month, with the aim of starting work in July on the project, which will see council customer service offered from a new city centre home.

The existing Merrion House is to be completely refurbished while a new extension is to be added to provide a new one stop centre for all main council services in the city centre.

The council’s existing long-term lease arrangement on Merrion House will be replaced by a new 25-year agreement.

The new Merrion House will offer around 170,000 sq ft of office space in total, including 50,000 sq ft of office space in a new extension.

As part of the new deal, the building will become jointly owned by Leeds City Council and Town Centre Securities.