The next chapter begins as YPN moves into digital age

After 42 years of standing proud at its Wellington Street site, the Yorkshire Post is in its final stages of moving to its new home of No.1 Leeds, on Whitehall Road.

While it is leaving behind the bricks and mortar, Yorkshire’s national newspaper takes with it a 258-year history and a reputation built on championing the county and campaigning on the issues that matter to the people of Yorkshire.

The move for the Yorkshire Post and its sister title, the Yorkshire Evening Post, heralds the start of a new chapter as both newspapers enhance its print product with a growing digital offering, enabling readers to access news, sport, business and features from their computers, tablets and phones as well as from the newspaper.

The move, explains Helen Oldham, managing director of Yorkshire Post Newspapers, Halifax Courier Ltd and Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group, gives the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post the opportunity to embrace online as well as providing modern surroundings in which to produce excellent print products.

She says: “Next year we anticipate a significant growth in turnover from our digital business. We are committed to providing a better environment for people to work in – producing high quality copy in an environment with no windows is a big ask and does not feed creativity.

“It’s not just a good place to work, it will enable our advertising, newspaper sales, editorial and digital people to work more closely together. It will also enable us to create a stronger platform from which to continue campaigning for Yorkshire issues and to reflect Leeds and Yorkshire life.

“We are pleased that we have secured such high quality offices in the centre of Leeds, and as a long established, Leeds-based business we felt it was vital to remain at the heart of the city.”

Peter Charlton, editorial director of Yorkshire Post Newspapers, said: “The Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post have been trusted by the people of Yorkshire for successive generations. Sadly, though our Wellington Street premises simply do not reflect the modern conditions needed by a multi-media company today.

“Moving to bright, new offices will help us to better knit together as a team to develop our award-winning content across multiple platforms while building on the trust that we have earned since the Leeds Intelligencer was first launched 258 years ago.

“We will continue to play a pivotal role in the life of the Yorkshire – and Leeds – community, campaigning on the topics our audiences hold dear. We’re looking forward to welcoming our customers, clients, advertisers and readers to our new home.”

The Yorkshire Post has moved a number of times, keeping Leeds as its home. Yorkshire Post Newspapers can trace its roots back to July 2, 1754 when Griffith Wright printed the first issue of the weekly publication, the Leeds Intelligencer. This was printed from premises in the Lower Headrow, roughly in the area of what became the Odeon cinema. In 1836, the Intelligencer moved to bigger premises shared with the Leeds Library in Commercial Street.

In 1866 a group of business men formed the Yorkshire Conservative Newspaper Company, and bought the Intelligencer, later renaming it the Yorkshire Post. Albion Street was the newspaper’s new home. 1890 saw the Yorkshire Evening Post published from this base.

80 years later, in 1970, a new era started for the company, now called Yorkshire Post Newspapers, with the £5m purpose-built headquarters at Wellington Street, providing presses which formed the largest press installation in the world.

The building was designed by architect John Madin, who passed away in January this year and whose work also included the Pebble Mill TV studios, Birmingham Central Library and the Birmingham Post building, It was officially opened by Prince Charles in December 1970.

Yorkshire Post Newspapers will take up its new home in No.1 Leeds, which has a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and is one of the most energy efficient buildings in Leeds.

The building, which boasts 122,003 sq ft, Grade A office space and a canal and riverside location, is owned by IVG. In the last 12 months, lettings have been completed to Gratterpalm (18,871 sq ft), GDF Suez (31,155 sq ft) and Yorkshire Post (33,878 sq ft), totalling 83,904 sq ft.

David Gibson, managing director of IVG UK Ltd, said: “IVG are delighted to welcome the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post to No.1 Leeds. Yorkshire Post Newspapers undertook a detailed search for a new HQ building with a focus to find a high profile, quality and efficient city centre office building that will help move their highly regarded media brands forward. No.1 Leeds was the outstanding option and as demonstrated by the lettings to Gratterpalm and GDF Suez, confirmed No.1 Leeds as the best building in Leeds. These deals are a massive endorsement of Leeds as a top quality business centre.”

All that you need to know

The new address for the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post is now: No.1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS12 1BE.

All telephone numbers will remain the same.

People are still able to place advertisements and book reader holidays at the new reception.

Reception opening hours are: 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

No.1 Leeds is located a nine-minute walk away from the city centre.

Nearby car parks are Town Centre Car Parks, 7 Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS1 4AW and, opposite, Wellington Place pay and display car park.

For anyone wishing to look around the new offices of the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post, please contact the Yorkshire Post Newspapers reception on 0113 243 2701.