Time to be a part of the city’s resurgence

That was one of the key messages given to senior figures who attended a major seminar held in London, focused on opportunities within the Leeds City Region.

And with investment of almost £1.5bn being made available across the city region, there has never been a better time to take advantage of its “occupational story”, the audience was told.

Organised by property agent GVA, and supported by inward investment organisation Leeds and Partners, the Invest in Leeds seminar brought the region’s prime investment opportunities to the City of London.

More than 100 London-based investors from banking institutions and fund managers joined business leaders from across the Leeds City Region at the event, which showcased the UK’s largest economy and population centre outside the capital.

Revealing the findings of GVA’s latest research report, Invest in Leeds City Region, Ben Hall, investment director at GVA in Yorkshire, admitted that attracting inward investment into the Leeds City Region for both standing investment and property development had been difficult over recent years.

But he said the tide was turning and with Grade A office supply in key centres such as Leeds at a premium, Mr Hall said that it was not completely out of the question that speculative development could make a return.

He said: “One of most crucial things is that investors have renewed belief in the occupational market and the occupational story in the Leeds City Region is robust.”

A number of recent deals for prominent office buildings in Leeds city centre, including Bond Court, Toronto Square and Chancellor Court, give an indication of this returning investor confidence, he said

Rents across the industrial, office and retail markets are also expected to grow in a sign that occupier demand is set to strengthen further.

“The message to take away is that now is a good time to invest in the Leeds City Region,” said Mr Hall.

Chaired by Andrew Carter of Centre for Cities, the audience also heard from a panel including Roger Marsh, chairman of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership; Alan Gay, chief financial officer to the Leeds City Region and LEP; Barra Mac Ruairi, strategic director at Bradford Council; Stuart Howie, of PwC; and Dai Powell, director at GVA. The panel discussed how collaboration between towns and cities, as well as businesses and universities, was a key factor in unlocking value and driving economic growth.