Leeds building to be ‘substantially redeveloped’ into 56,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme

A 56,000 sq ft building in the heart of Leeds is set to be transformed into a mix of office, retail and leisure space.

Leeds City Council has given the greenlight for property firm LJ Real Estate to turn 34 Boar Lane into a new mixed-use destination for the city.

LJ acquired the building, located opposite the railway station and Trinity Leeds shopping centre, from investment trust Regional REIT for £9.58m earlier this year.

Formerly known as CGU House, the property is being marketed by the Leeds office of real estate consultancy Knight Frank.

The head of office agency at Knight Frank Leeds, partner Eamon Fox, said: “This is tremendous news. We collaborated with LJ Real Estate for over three years to find the correct property in Leeds to buy and now we have got the go-ahead to fulfil our vision.

“34 Boar Lane will be substantially redeveloped and will look to incorporate the principles of a diverse community of like-minded people shaping a place together, with connected environments: digitally, physically, socially, but within a design-led, tech-savvy quality space for occupiers to work in.”

A look inside 34 Boar Lane

He added: “We have ambitious plans for 34 Boar Lane, as we look to transform this well-positioned building into an exciting workplace at the forefront of the Leeds market. Be prepared, we are planning something very special.”

Knight Frank is currently seeking an “internationally renowned retailer/leisure operator” for the site’s 10,000 sq ft ground floor.

Eamon continued: “[We] also have plans for three amazing penthouse suites. We have been on site for six months dealing with strip out of the old building.

“Now planning permission has been granted, acclaimed London-based contractors Oktra are pushing fast towards the finish.”

The transformation project is due for completion in May 2019.

The team behind the 34 Boar Lane development is led by directors Sam Lawson Johnston and George Haddo, the driving forces behind family-backed investment group LJ Real Estate.

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