The job of main contractor for the £100m Central Square development in Leeds city centre has been awarded to Wates Construction.
Planning permission for the 11-storey office scheme — situated between Whitehall Road and Wellington Street on the former Royal Mail site — was granted in March. Ground clearance work is slated to start this June with construction beginning later in the summer. Wates has estimated a little under two years to complete 220,000sq ft project.
The 117-year-old contractor was handed the role of lead builder by the site’s owner Huddersfield-based Roydhouse Properties (Central Square) Ltd and asset managers Marrico LLP. Confirming the scheme’s summer start Mark Barnes, managing partner at Marrico, said: “This demonstrates to the market our commitment to the city of Leeds that we will provide a building ready for tenants to start fitting out by late 2015 and occupied early in 2016.”
When complete the block will add another 25,000sq ft of Grade A flexible office space to the city’s depleted commercial stock. Designed by DLA Design, the scheme’s twin buildings will rise to 11 and eight floors with the two blocks linked by a sloping curtain wall to create a winter garden and atrium. On ninth floor level there will be a 9,800sq ft Sky Garden for use by the building’s tenants.
The mixed-use development will also include accessible public thoroughfares, 128 car parking spaces and ground floor retail and leisure units.
David Price is business unit director at Wates Construction. “Investment in the region, both private and public, has seen a considerable resurgence of late and the progress made on the delivery of Central Square is demonstrative of the growing confidence in our region,” he said.
“Our appointment to this flagship scheme is testament to our extensive expertise in commercial developments and we are very proud to be playing a key role in the ever-changing landscape of Leeds city centre.”
Councillor Richard Lewis, executive member for development and economy at Leeds City Council, said: “It is good news that development is about to start on site and is further evidence of Leeds coming out of recession. This development will provide a further boost to the city’s office market and gives confidence to its supply of Grade A space.”
The former Royal Mail site was initially earmarked for two residential towers but the developer behind the scheme was placed in receivership in 2010. Liquidators Deloitte then floated the office complex concept which was sold on to Roydhouse Properties last August.
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