Empty city centre office block set for refurbishment at last

A PROMINENT office block in Leeds city centre looks set to be refurbished five years after it was vacated.

City House, above the railway station, is a 14-storey office block that dates back to 1962. However it has been empty since 2006.

New owner, Bruntwood, is seeking permission to refurbish the building fully, including installing a new lift and creating a mezzanine level extension.

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The company, which owns other offices in Leeds, acquired the 12 upper levels of City House in July last year.

The main entrance is from New Station Street, which provides access to the lifts and stairs to the office floors above.

The owners propose to re-clad the block to remove the “tired looking appearance of the building and present a modern appearance that will enhance the character of the city centre,” according to a report to the council’s city centre plans panel.

The pedestrian entrance will be remodelled and a mezzanine link introduced to provide additional access to the basement car park.

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Bruntwood intends to convert the 120,000 square foot of office space into grade A offices, serviced offices to accommodate all sizes of business and meeting and conference rooms for hire.

The existing building will be clad with glazing and the brick-clad ends will be over-clad with insulated render.

The developer says that a small section of the existing Marks and Spencer outlet in the station will be removed to improve visibility to the new entrance to City House.

Significant improvements will be made to the pedestrian area along New Station Street following the visual improvements to the Rail Gourmet unit and the existing bridge structure.

Both these are “extremely unsightly”, says the report.

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Council planners say the application will enhance the look of an office block building which sits in an area of listed buildings.

The developer has also proposed to add a series of projecting fins that will provide more internal space and permit panoramic views over the city.

The fins will provide a visual pointer to the main entrance to City House. The canopy on the roof of the eastern wing will be removed and the canopy to the western wing will be replaced by a plant screen.

The council report, to be discussed on Thursday, says the addition of the projecting fins will give the building a strong visual presence and improve the inside of the building.

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“The new mezzanine walkway will project forward of the existing flat fronted building but is considered acceptable as it greatly enhances circulation and also gives the building much better definition at the lower level,” according to the planning report.

The plans will also see changes at basement level, with car parking reduced from 79 spaces to 56. There will also be space for 44 bicycles, shower and locker facilities.

Cyclists will be able to enter from Pitt Row or Neville Street.

The planning report concludes that the proposed refurbishment of City House is considered to “enhance many views within the city centre due to its prominence whilst also enhancing the visual amenity around the station entrance”.

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It concludes: “City House has a tired appearance and is in need of refurbishment as it currently provides little visual benefit in the city centre.

“Being such a tall and prominent building it is considered the character of the city centre, adjacent conservation area and setting of nearby listed buildings would be significantly enhanced following the proposed refurbishment.

“The pedestrian experience along New Station Street will be improved and the introduction of a highly sustainable office building accords with the city’s sustainability ambitions.”

Councillors are being urged to delegate approval to the chief planning officer, subject to further negotiations and conditions.