Property in brief: Carillion, Regus, Two Ridings Community Foundation, St Gemma’s Hospice

CONSTRUCTION firm Carillion has been named as the preferred bidder for the regeneration of the Engine House by Leeds City Council.

Central to the Tower Works development on Leeds’ Southbank, the Engine House, which housed a steel pin factory, is a Grade II listed building built in 1899.

Carillion intends to repurpose the building as a restaurant with a microbrewery and an arthouse cinema.

Gareth Jackson, development director for Carillion said: “We are really pleased to have secured this element of the Tower Works site, which is under the current ownership of Leeds City Council.

“Our team are in the process of developing a thoughtful and high-quality bar and restaurant offer which takes its cues from Holbeck and its emerging community and this announcement means we can begin conversations with independent cinema operators in earnest over the summer.”

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said: “[Carillion’s] proposals will add further vitality to the successful independent food and drink sector in the South Bank while the inclusion of an independent art-house cinema will further enhance the attractiveness of the area.

“Importantly, this is another great example of imaginative re-use of listed buildings in Holbeck Urban Village and will complement the award -winning redevelopments at the Round Foundry and Marshall Mill.”

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WORKSPACE provider Regus has revamped its flexible workspace at the Princes Exchange next to Leeds Train Station.

Two of the three floors it covers have been refurbished with a co-working area, private booths and a library.

Richard Morris, UK chief executive at Regus, said: “The world of work has changed irreversibly and flexibility has become the cornerstone of successful business, as workers find they are no longer shackled to a desk.

“Princes Exchange is designed to offer the perfect solution to those professionals who find they are able to work anywhere, but still value the structure and professional atmosphere of an office-type environment, at least some of the time.”

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GRANT-MAKING charity the Two Ridings Community Foundation has moved into a new home in the Innovation Centre, York.

They are the latest to move in to the building which is part of York Science Park, next to the University of York, which is home to over 100 companies. 

Jan Garrill, chief executive of Two Ridings Community Foundations, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have made this move, into what is one of the most exciting business space developments in York.

“We are taking great strides as an organisation, and are looking forward to pushing on in our new premises. York Science Park is an exciting environment for Two Ridings to create, innovate and grow.”

Two Ridings Community Foundation’s new home on York Science Park, just next to University of York comprises a large office space plus access to the Innovation Centre’s meeting rooms and facilities.

“The unit is extremely impressive and reflects what we are about as an organisation. The facilities at York Science Park will help us to reach more people than ever in the business and voluntary sectors and further the services we can offer.”

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CHARITY St Gemma’s Hospice has opened a retail outlet in Garforth.

The 1,805 sq ft site will house a shop, kitchen and storage. St Gemma’s Hospice, which is based in Moortown and is Yorkshire’s largest hospice, plans to open its latest shop later this summer when it relocates from its current premises at 45 Main Street.

St Gemma’s Hospice provides care and quality of life for local people with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.

Matthew Brear from Dacres Commercial says: “St Gemma’s Hospice does a superb job under difficult circumstances and its shops provide an extremely valuable income stream.

“This unit is in a busy area, surrounded by well-known retailers including The Co-Operative, Sainsbury’s, The Original Factory Shop and The Card Factory, which all attract high levels of footfall, so it has the potential to evolve into a highly successful shop for the charity.”

Dacres Commercial operates from an office network that covers Leeds city centre, Ilkley, Skipton, Keighley, Harrogate and Otley.