Member Article

Allied London's Leeds Dock workspace given the green light

Developer Allied London is one step further towards delivering its plans for Leeds Dock, following the granting of planning permission for its new workspace “super-building”, The Engine.

Allied London’s idea for Leeds Dock involves the regeneration of Leeds’ Southbank, which is located only 500 metres south east of Leeds city centre.

The Engine will bring a workspace building to Leeds offering over 70,000 sq. ft. of super-specified, flexible space full of technology assets and will be created on the site of the former Alea casino

Michael Ingall, CEO of Allied London, said: “The creation of The Engine presents a unique opportunity for Leeds. Too many of the new, planned and vacant buildings in the city offer just a simple and traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ office space.

“This isn’t how the modern business wants to use space. Our view is that the modern workplace has changed and will continue to evolve.

“The Engine addresses this fact and will provide the modern, customisable space that fast paced emerging and corporate businesses desire.

“We are being inundated with demand for this workspace building model in Manchester and London’s Farringdon, and our careful market research tells us there will be similar significant demand for this product in Leeds.

“We already have great interest, and I believe this offer will help the city strengthen its pitch to inward investors.

“Our Leeds Dock project has already commenced, and we know that a smaller but similar product here will be just as successful.

“Our current activity is quickly showing people the potential of what will be a new city centre community, and The Engine will be perfectly positioned as the workspace super building within what we hope will become an important new neighbourhood for Leeds.”

As well as The Engine plans being approved, Leeds Council has also agreed in principle to support a range of new transport and related infrastructure, including a new shuttle bus to the railway station and city centre, better cross-city wayfinding and improved cycle routes and facilities.

This follows the ongoing success of the water taxi service, which Allied London launched at the beginning of the Summer.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .