£100m Central Square development moves into next phase

FLAGSHIP development Central Square has moved into its second phase ahead of schedule.

Roydhouse Properties and Marrico LLP have teamed up for the first speculative office scheme in Leeds for eight years.

Wates Construction started work on site at the 11-storey mixed-use scheme in June last year which is being fully forward funded through M & G Real Estate.

Designed by DLA Design, Central Square will comprise 220,000 sq ft of flexible Grade A office space, 30,000 sq ft of retail and leisure provision, 128 car parking spaces, accessible public thoroughfares, a ninth floor sky garden with city views, a central atrium and winter garden.

Built on the former Royal Mail site, the development represents the largest ever speculative funding in the city. Completion is expected early 2016.

The progress comes after Deloitte’s recent crane survey, which showed that growing confidence in Leeds’ commercial market had boosted construction activity in the city with new-build developments more than trebling since 2013.

Mark Barnes of Marrico said: “Requirements from potential occupiers continues to rise and as a result it is refreshing to see the number of cranes on the Leeds skyline. As the first developer to buck this trend, this latest stage of the construction of Central Square reaffirms our commitment to this scheme and our confidence in the region’s market.”

Phil Harrison, managing director, Wates Construction North, added: “The cranes that currently dot Leeds city centre’s skyline are a marker of the growing investment and confidence in the commercial market, a resurgence that is also creating a strengthening upward curve in the construction industry.”