Wates builds on growth plans with relocation

CONTRACTOR Wates Construction has moved to Leeds Valley Park as part of plans to increase its presence across Yorkshire and the North East.

The move follows Wates’ growth in its core sectors of commercial, high-rise living and education and forms part of the Wates Group’s wider plans to double turnover to £2bn.

Now with 85 Leeds-based office employees, Wates Construction has outgrown its previous home on Gelderd Road and has made the move to lease more spacious accommodation with capacity for further expansion.

The move follows Wates’ acquisition of Shepherd Group’s SES Engineering Services and Shepherd FM in addition to a number of contracts and frameworks from Shepherd Construction in October last year.

Wates’ presence in the region includes the delivery of a number of high profile projects such as Marrico’s £100m Central Square office in Leeds and the prestigious Kirkstall Forge development on behalf of CEG.

The company also completed the new multi-storey car park scheme for the University of Leeds in December and has a strong forward order book for a number of student residential and educational developments in the region.

Paul Dodsworth, business unit director for Wates Construction North East and Yorkshire, said: “Our new office provides us with the infrastructure and connectivity we need to support our growing client base in Yorkshire and the North East and demonstrates our long-term commitment to the region.

“The move also underpins our efforts to continuously improve the performance of our people in order to exceed the expectations of our customers and further raise the bar for the construction industry in the North.”

Elizabeth Ridler, partner with property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, who advised on behalf of the landlord, said: “This is an excellent deal for all concerned. It underlines what a positive start to the year it has been for the Leeds out-of-town market, which follows on from a good finish in 2015. It was also concluded within a year of our appointment as agents for the building, which is very satisfying.

“The 10,360 sq ft third floor at Darwin House at Leeds Valley Park represented the best in class solution for Wates as it was already fully fitted out and ready to go.”

“Significantly it builds on the success Knight Frank had in letting Raynham House at Capitol Park West in Leeds, where Barratts took 12,700 sq ft of office space,” added Ms Ridler.