Church of England sees delivery of new centralised Leeds offices

Property consultant Eddisons has completed a major relocation and centralisation project for the Church of England in Leeds.

The Church of England’s Diocese of Leed is combining four regional outposts into a new 18,000 sq ft, state-of-the-art head office.

The move has seen 100 administrative staff in the Leeds, Wakefield, Steeton and Harrogate offices come together in the diocese’s fully refurbished new home at York Place in Leeds city centre.

Eddisons agency director Steven Jones acquired the self-contained, grade A office building at 17-19 York Place for the diocese in March, when the firm was instructed to find a Leeds city centre building suitable for 100 staff.

The offices were also required to be freehold and no more than ten minutes walk from the train station.

The Eddisons building and project consultancy team, headed by national director Ian Harrington, was also appointed to project manage the refurbishment of the building.

Working with creative consultant So Vibrant, mechanical and electrical specialist NOVO and IT support provider Mansys, Eddisons procured and installed a new IT strategy, including platforms, hardware and telecommunication.

Furniture for the new offices was provided by interiors business Southerns.

Solar panels were also installed on the roof of the building in line with the diocese’s green agenda. The scheme includes the ‘Cielo’ – meaning heaven in Spanish – coffee shop at street level.

Eddisons’ Ian Harrington said; “This has been a major project and it has been immensely satisfying that, as a firm, we have had the opportunity to oversee the creation of the diocese’s new home, from the acquisition of the building right through to overseeing the final details of the refurbishment.

“The whole team is proud of the smart new 21st century workplace we have delivered for the diocese and its staff.”

The Dean of Ripon, John Dobson, who chaired the diocese’s office project group, added: “We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome and Eddisons have been entirely supportive and helpful every step of the way.

“We are thrilled with our new offices, which are an excellent environment for our staff – fresh, modern and just a stone’s throw from the train station and bus routes. Our new base will further enhance our work for the 471 parishes, 656 churches and 247 church schools that fall within our diocese.”

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