£100m Central Square office scheme enters final phase

Construction of Roydhouse Properties and Marrico LLP’s Central Square, Leeds’ first speculative office for eight years, has now entered its final stages.

The 11-storey development at Wellington Street is being delivered by main contractor, Wates Construction.

This news comes just after PwC announced it is set to transfer 700 employees to Central Square, occupying 55,000 sq ft across the seventh and eighth floors.

Once complete, Central Square will comprise 220,000 sq ft of flexible Grade A office space, 30,000 sq ft of retail and leisure provision, 128 car parking spaces, accessible public thoroughfares, a central atrium and winter garden.

Designed by DLA Design, Central Square is being built on the former Royal Mail site and represents the largest ever speculative funding that the city has seen.

Mark Barnes, managing partner at Marrico LLP, said: “The positive momentum in the UK economy together with the strong growth in Leeds, market sentiment and occupier demand means that there are a number of larger, ‘live’ and forthcoming requirements coming forward. We will be announcing other lettings in Central Square over the coming months.”

Paul Dodsworth, Business Unit Director for Wates Construction Yorkshire and North East, commented: “Building work is progressing at pace on site, in-part thanks to Wates’ strong partnership with Marrico and Roydhouse Properties. As plans for the government’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ kick into gear, Leeds’ commercial reach is steadily expanding and Central Square is a development that will enable this amazing city to attract national and global businesses.”

The site was purchased by Steve Parkin and Gurnaik Chima, is being developed by Marrico and has been fully forward funded through M & G Real Estates (Prudential Assurance Company Ltd).

Construction began in June 2014 and completion is scheduled for early 2016.

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