Work on a new seven-storey building at Leeds development, Aire Park, is due to start next year after planners approved the next phase of the scheme.
The ambitious South Bank regeneration project aims to double the size of Leeds city centre. Leeds City Council has approved plans for the Vastint UK's building, which will provide 75,000 sqft of office space and almost 7,000 sqft of flexible ground floor space for local retail, restaurant and amenity businesses.
The new building is located on the corner of Waterloo Street and Hunslet Road, neighbouring the iconic Tetley building and will mark the gateway to Aire Park on the approach from Leeds Train Station and city centre.
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The announcement could not be more timely comes as new shock figures show overall city centre Grade A vacancy in Leeds stands at just 1.5 per cent of the total market, with just under 200,000 sqft of city centre stock currently available – a 30 per cent decrease on the 10-year average. Business leaders say the lack of good quality office stock is hampering occupiers and contributing to rising rents, as commercial tenants look to move forward from the pandemic and embrace new ways of working.
The Aire Park development will create a new community as part of the regeneration of the South Bank area. Plans for the first phase of the development include 850 new homes, offices, shops, a hotel and a new city centre park at its heart. The park will be the largest new city-centre green space in the UK, providing over six acres of public park and outdoor space in the first phase of the masterplan.
The building has been designed by architects Cartwright Pickard. Manufacturing elements of the structure and façade offsite will help to make the building more environmentally friendly by maximising its thermal performance and reducing waste.
The ground floor has been designed as a flexible co-working space, with cycle storage and changing facilities. Floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides of the building will also give office workers 360-degree views across Leeds. The building also has a large roof terrace with views across the park and Leeds’ skyline.
Simon Schofield, Vastint UK construction lead for the North, said: "Since planning permission was first submitted for Aire Park, we've seen huge interest and support from the local public, and this approval brings us closer to realising Aire Park as a new city-centre district for the people of Leeds.
"This exciting design will help recreate the historic route of the Hunslet Road, whilst providing state of the art office and retail space in the very heart of Leeds. Our long-term investment in Aire Park complements the plans for the city as a whole and will create a thriving community in the South Bank area.
"By working closely with the surrounding landowners and redeveloping the land, which forms part of the South Bank’s rich history, we’re ensuring Aire Park forms vital links between the South Bank and city centre; creating a welcoming and inclusive environment."
