Developer submits plans to redevelop city offices

The company plans to transform the 53,000 sq ft building at 12 King Street, in Leeds city centre, into modern offices with a sky lounge and a roof terrace at the top.

The site was bought by Opus North, together with funding partners Fiera Real Estate, off a guide price of £12m, in January this year.

Built in 1989, spanning seven floors, 12 King Street will be ready for occupation next year. The redevelopment works will include an extension to the front, a complete replacement of the fifth and sixth floors, along with the addition of a sky lounge and roof terrace on the seventh floor.

All mechanical and electrical elements of the building will be replaced. Internal strip out works began in February and are now nearing completion.

Andrew Duncan, director of Opus North, said: “The submission of our planning application to Leeds City Council is another crucial milestone in the renaissance of this spectacular building. If all goes well, and permission is granted, we will start extensive redevelopment work in July.

“Occupier demands are changing. Businesses want more choice in their workspace and more services and amenities for their staff. This trend is already disrupting the market in Leeds but is also opening up new opportunities to add value for us, which we will apply at 12 King Street.”

Eamon Fox, partner at the Leeds office of Knight Frank, which is joint marketing agent for the building, said: “This is going to be a stunning redevelopment, which will be perfect for contemporary Leeds.

“People want more than just a good job and working environment. The lifestyle a particular city can offer is becoming a key component for a business in attracting and retaining staff, which is where Leeds is winning over other UK cities.”