BarnsleyBradford

CalderdaleCraven

HarrogateKirklees

LeedsSelby

Wakefi eldYork

LocationLeeds City Region Investment Guide 2019

LLCR Cover.indd 1 28/08/2019 11:01

LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 1

The transformational change that has taken hold in the Leeds City

Region in just a few years since Insider began publishing this annual guide is clear for all to see.

It is an investment-ready destination with a fruitful start-up and SME sector offering signifi cant returns to investors as well as land and talent aplenty.

The city region is the UK’s largest outside of London, the economy aloneis bigger than that of nine European

countries. As a city, Leeds last year attracted 82 per cent more venture capital into technology companies than Greater Manchester according to the Tech Nation network.

It was also ranked by the 2019 EY UK Attractiveness Survey as the third best performing city in the UK outside of London for attracting foreign direct investment.

It’s worth remembering how that happened during a period when foreign direct investment projects into the UK dropped by over 12 per cent. The number of projects into Leeds actually increased.

But no longer is the story just about Leeds the city or a reputed Golden Triangle between Leeds, York and Harrogate either. Take a trip to Bradford, Wakefi eld, Halifax, Huddersfi eld, Barnsley or Selby and see the earnest effort to make a better place.

When you consider the manufacturing bases in Kirklees and Calderdale, logistics and warehousing around the M62/M1 corridor, fi nancial and professional services in Leeds and Bradford and the visitor economy of North Yorkshire, it is apparent that the region is truly diverse.

As a publication, Location: Leeds City Region is your informa-tive guide to how different sectors are performing, what the key strengths are and what property investment opportunities exist.

By the time we come to write it again next year, I am certain there will be more great stories to tell.

A powerhouse for Yorkshire

Craven Harrogate

York

BradfordLeeds

Selby

Calderdale

Wakefield

Barnsley

Kirklees

Foreword and contents

Health, science and innovation 6

Digital and creative 3

Offi ces 8

Manufacturing 19

Transport, infrastructure and logistics

Financial and professional services

13

11

Education and skills 21

Leisure, retail and culture 20

Industrial property 15

Great places to live 22

Ian Leech, editor

p1-5 Location Leeds.indd 1 28/08/2019 14:37

Frank Hester, TPP founderINVESTINHARROGATE.CO.UK

Discover for yourself why Harrogate district could be your next best move.

Call: 01423 500600 ext 58058 to speak to our Inward Investment team.

Email: business@harrogate.gov.uk

• Harrogate has one of the highest levels of quality of life in the UK

• Six out of 10 schools are Outstanding / four are Good

• Home to world-class conference venues, including Harrogate Convention Centre

• One third of the medicines on the market today were developed in Harrogate

• The ‘Squound’ bottle for the global air passenger market was invented in Harrogate

• 93%+ businesses are served with Superfast Broadband

• Nine universities are within an hour’s drive

• Geographic centre of the UK, equidistant from East & West ports

• 43% of the population is educated to degree level or above

• Home to one of the UK’s largest and most successful multi-channel retailers

• A £3.8bn economy (GVA)

The Harrogate District where businesses thrive...

p1-5 Location Leeds.indd 2 28/08/2019 14:09

LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 3

Terrific tech The tech talent on offer in the Leeds City Region is unparalleled – the area boasts world-leading, forward-thinking companies and the staff to keep them innovating

The Leeds City Region has always had a strong heritage in banking, and as

a result of the wider sector going through a digital transition in recent years, the city has emerged as something of a hub for fi ntech companies.

First Direct, TransUnion (formerly CallCredit) and Yorkshire Bank Group have signifi cant operations in the region, as well as fi rms using new digital tools to streamline processes in adjacent sectors – property crowdfunding investment company UOwn, automotive fi nance provider DealTrak and fi nancial crime and fraud detection company, TruNarrative, being good examples.

Dealtrak processes 3.6 million fi nance applications a year and the fi gure is growing. While currently focusing solely on the UK, Dealtrak has designs on the international market and looks to expand in the coming years using artifi cial intelli-gence and increasingly complex systems.

Loans management and credit technology company, Equiniti Credit Services, was formed from two lending

brands, Equiniti Pancredit and Nostrum Group. The company launched its northern tech hub, which currently manages more than £20bn in credit assets, at Lawnswood Business Park in May last year. In the year since, it has signed new contracts with FTSE 100 companies.

The Leeds Digital Festival is held annually in the spring. Incredibly, this year’s instalment saw more events over the course of its ten-day run than were organised across the whole of San Francisco, at the heart of Silicon Valley.

In November 2013, The Open Data Institute Leeds was founded to encourage people to engage and innovate with open data and be more creative. In the years since it’s foundation, the ODI Leeds has hosted more than 800 events attended by more than 12,000 people in the industry.

The region also has a speciality in the sporttech world. Pitchero began life around ten years ago as a grassroots sports platform. The company has more than 10,000 registered clubs with two million users and is now the main supplier

of digital resources and tools to grass-roots organisations in the UK.

Nebraska-head-quartered sports software company Hudl opened its second UK offi ce in Leeds in March last year. The com-pany focuses on sports performance, providing tools for

professional teams to review their game footage and analyse their play.

Catapult Sports is an Australian opera-tion that utilises GPS (global positioning system), video and wearable devices to build and improve the performance of athletes and teams at all levels of sport. While still headquartered in Melbourne, the fi rm has regional offi ces across the world, including on Calls Wharf in Leeds.

Sports streaming service DAZN doesn’t currently serve UK viewers but the fi rm is growing signifi cantly and its 350-strong team has moved to a 40,000 sq ft offi ce at White Rose Offi ce Park in Leeds.

In health and medical technologies, EMIS Health supplies electronic patient record systems and software used in primary care in the UK. The company claims more than half of GP practices across the UK use EMIS software.

Software developer TPP supplies clinical software to different markets within NHS England as well as systems abroad. The fi rm, headquartered in Horsforth, has been going for more than two decades and has found Yorkshire to be fertile ground.

The Digital Creativity Labs in York were established in the city in 2016 as a major £18m initiative for innovative research in the digital and creative sphere. Based at the University of York’s Ron Cooke Hub, the lab is becoming a world-leading centre of excellence. ■

Digital and creative

Dealtrak

Frank Hester, TPP founder

Engaging in tech

INVESTINHARROGATE.CO.UK

Discover for yourself why Harrogate district could be your next best move.

Call: 01423 500600 ext 58058 to speak to our Inward Investment team.

Email: business@harrogate.gov.uk

• Harrogate has one of the highest levels of quality of life in the UK

• Six out of 10 schools are Outstanding / four are Good

• Home to world-class conference venues, including Harrogate Convention Centre

• One third of the medicines on the market today were developed in Harrogate

• The ‘Squound’ bottle for the global air passenger market was invented in Harrogate

• 93%+ businesses are served with Superfast Broadband

• Nine universities are within an hour’s drive

• Geographic centre of the UK, equidistant from East & West ports

• 43% of the population is educated to degree level or above

• Home to one of the UK’s largest and most successful multi-channel retailers

• A £3.8bn economy (GVA)

The Harrogate District where businesses thrive...

p1-5 Location Leeds.indd 3 28/08/2019 14:09

ADVERTISING PROFILE

Creativity and digital technologies are in Wakefi eld’s DNA

As home to internationally-renowned attractions such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth gallery, we provide an environment where creative and digital businesses thrive and grow

Our excellent infrastructure and transport links, and our expanding portfolio of major household brands which are proud to call Wakefi eld their home, make our district a prime location for businesses to invest in.

There is an exciting array of major projects which are currently underway, reinforcing Wakefi eld’s position as a hub for creative and digital business.

RUTLAND MILLSCity & Provincial Properties is progressing with the refurbishment of a large Grade II-listed mill complex on the River Calder and its re-use as a creative hub. It will deliver some 13,000 sqm of workspace, music studios, event and community areas and major public realm improvements. The site will create a new creative quarter for collaborative partnerships in music, fi lm, TV, design and new media. Situated next to the award-winning Hepworth Gallery, the development will be the perfect addition to Wakefi eld’s vibrant waterfront and an ideal location for digital and creative businesses.

CREATIVE HUBWakefi eld Council has secured £4.4m of government funding to transform the city into a Creative Hub, injecting substantial growth into the number of creative and digital businesses starting-up in the district.

The fund will be used to look to develop specialist workspace, skills initiatives, improve knowledge sharing and pilot innovation projects which inspire growth and talent development.

FUTURE HIGH STREETSWakefi eld has reached the second round of the government’s Future High Streets Fund – aiming to revitalise parts of the city centre and help breathe new life back into the main shopping precinct.

Wakefi eld Council’s bid was one of only 50 which made it through to the next round, out of 300 bids nationally, and is backed by all key partners who will con-tinue working together to improve the city centre for all who work, shop and visit.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WAKEFIELD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CONTACT INFO@WAKEFIELDFIRST.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CALL 01924 306 916

Rutland Mills

The Junction The Hepworth Gallery

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIESThe recently-renovated Navigation Warehouse which off ers a fantastic and wholesome riverside converted 18th century Grade II* Listed mill building. The building’s new co-working space has been recently fi tted out to a high quality specifi cation, and off ers various characterful suites to suit businesses of all shapes and sizes.

The space off ers co-working, private offi ce space, conference rooms, and presentation area. Prices start from just £130 per month, with printing included, and on-site kitchenettes and cafe.

The Junction is a short distance from J40 of the M1, and promotes produc-tivity and wellbeing at the heart of their business ethos. The site off ers businesses with a wide range of ‘boutique’ styled space, co-working and private offi ce room space. The Junction has a wide range of facilities including fully-serviced stylish kitchens with catering options, meeting and conference room hire, and modern breakout and lounge areas. As part of their membership, employees can access an onsite gym with PT options available as well as an outdoor roof terrace where employees can take a break and simply enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. The Junction off ers the perfect environment to grow your business within a vibrant community of likeminded professionals

CASE STUDIES

British Muslim TV is an award-winning 24-hour satellite TV station which provides high-quality entertaining and educational content.“With Wakefi eld’s great transport links and central location, we have been running our award-winning Sky Satellite channel for over fi ve Years from the heart of Yorkshire, beaming out across the world.” Dr Bilal Hassam, Creative Director - British Muslim TV

The Pure Technology Group (PTG) is a leading provider of ICT services and solutions to UK SME, mid-mar-ket, enterprise and public sectors. Established in 2007, PTG has grown organically and through acquisition to a £30m+ turnover business, employing 130 people within three offi ce locations.

PTG acquired Wakefi eld-based Ser-vatech Ltd in mid-2014, with one of the key reasons being its location between the two major cities of Sheffi eld and Leeds, along with easy access to both the M1 and M62, allowing smooth travel throughout the North of England and further afi eld to PTG’s nationwide customer base.

PTG staff members love its beauti-ful Chapelthorpe venue, which is the setting for the UK’s biggest partner tech event – attracting more than 2,000 visitors over the past fi ve years. For the past fi ve years, PTG has hosted these events and attracted over 2,000 visitors to the area.

“PTG views Wakefi eld as a great place to work and invest in – the next fi ve years are going to be extremely exciting for city’s ambition and PTG looks forward to growing with partners and customers in the area and beyond.” James Blackburn, Group Marketing Manager - PTG.

Eitex is a leading IT support and cloud computing provider, dealing directly with Microsoft and is Tier-1 CSP (Cloud Solution Partners). They provide rapid IT support, 24/7 monitoring, Offi ce 365 Support, migration, implementation, licensing and training.

Eitex moved to Wakefi eld just over three years ago, jumping at the chance to be located near to Xscape Yorkshire – in the UK’s top 10 tourist attractions – with its excellent links to the M62, M1 and A1.

“Since moving to Wakefi eld our business as grown signifi cantly and we intend to extend on this and become a strong brand and name across the area.” Adele Spencer, Director - Eitex.

British Muslim TV, Eitex and Pure Technology are just a small number of successful local businesses within our digital and creative sectors

p1-5 Location Leeds.indd 4 28/08/2019 14:09

ADVERTISING PROFILE

Creativity and digital technologies are in Wakefi eld’s DNA

As home to internationally-renowned attractions such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth gallery, we provide an environment where creative and digital businesses thrive and grow

Our excellent infrastructure and transport links, and our expanding portfolio of major household brands which are proud to call Wakefi eld their home, make our district a prime location for businesses to invest in.

There is an exciting array of major projects which are currently underway, reinforcing Wakefi eld’s position as a hub for creative and digital business.

RUTLAND MILLSCity & Provincial Properties is progressing with the refurbishment of a large Grade II-listed mill complex on the River Calder and its re-use as a creative hub. It will deliver some 13,000 sqm of workspace, music studios, event and community areas and major public realm improvements. The site will create a new creative quarter for collaborative partnerships in music, fi lm, TV, design and new media. Situated next to the award-winning Hepworth Gallery, the development will be the perfect addition to Wakefi eld’s vibrant waterfront and an ideal location for digital and creative businesses.

CREATIVE HUBWakefi eld Council has secured £4.4m of government funding to transform the city into a Creative Hub, injecting substantial growth into the number of creative and digital businesses starting-up in the district.

The fund will be used to look to develop specialist workspace, skills initiatives, improve knowledge sharing and pilot innovation projects which inspire growth and talent development.

FUTURE HIGH STREETSWakefi eld has reached the second round of the government’s Future High Streets Fund – aiming to revitalise parts of the city centre and help breathe new life back into the main shopping precinct.

Wakefi eld Council’s bid was one of only 50 which made it through to the next round, out of 300 bids nationally, and is backed by all key partners who will con-tinue working together to improve the city centre for all who work, shop and visit.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WAKEFIELD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CONTACT INFO@WAKEFIELDFIRST.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CALL 01924 306 916

Rutland Mills

The Junction The Hepworth Gallery

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIESThe recently-renovated Navigation Warehouse which off ers a fantastic and wholesome riverside converted 18th century Grade II* Listed mill building. The building’s new co-working space has been recently fi tted out to a high quality specifi cation, and off ers various characterful suites to suit businesses of all shapes and sizes.

The space off ers co-working, private offi ce space, conference rooms, and presentation area. Prices start from just £130 per month, with printing included, and on-site kitchenettes and cafe.

The Junction is a short distance from J40 of the M1, and promotes produc-tivity and wellbeing at the heart of their business ethos. The site off ers businesses with a wide range of ‘boutique’ styled space, co-working and private offi ce room space. The Junction has a wide range of facilities including fully-serviced stylish kitchens with catering options, meeting and conference room hire, and modern breakout and lounge areas. As part of their membership, employees can access an onsite gym with PT options available as well as an outdoor roof terrace where employees can take a break and simply enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. The Junction off ers the perfect environment to grow your business within a vibrant community of likeminded professionals

CASE STUDIES

British Muslim TV is an award-winning 24-hour satellite TV station which provides high-quality entertaining and educational content.“With Wakefi eld’s great transport links and central location, we have been running our award-winning Sky Satellite channel for over fi ve Years from the heart of Yorkshire, beaming out across the world.” Dr Bilal Hassam, Creative Director - British Muslim TV

The Pure Technology Group (PTG) is a leading provider of ICT services and solutions to UK SME, mid-mar-ket, enterprise and public sectors. Established in 2007, PTG has grown organically and through acquisition to a £30m+ turnover business, employing 130 people within three offi ce locations.

PTG acquired Wakefi eld-based Ser-vatech Ltd in mid-2014, with one of the key reasons being its location between the two major cities of Sheffi eld and Leeds, along with easy access to both the M1 and M62, allowing smooth travel throughout the North of England and further afi eld to PTG’s nationwide customer base.

PTG staff members love its beauti-ful Chapelthorpe venue, which is the setting for the UK’s biggest partner tech event – attracting more than 2,000 visitors over the past fi ve years. For the past fi ve years, PTG has hosted these events and attracted over 2,000 visitors to the area.

“PTG views Wakefi eld as a great place to work and invest in – the next fi ve years are going to be extremely exciting for city’s ambition and PTG looks forward to growing with partners and customers in the area and beyond.” James Blackburn, Group Marketing Manager - PTG.

Eitex is a leading IT support and cloud computing provider, dealing directly with Microsoft and is Tier-1 CSP (Cloud Solution Partners). They provide rapid IT support, 24/7 monitoring, Offi ce 365 Support, migration, implementation, licensing and training.

Eitex moved to Wakefi eld just over three years ago, jumping at the chance to be located near to Xscape Yorkshire – in the UK’s top 10 tourist attractions – with its excellent links to the M62, M1 and A1.

“Since moving to Wakefi eld our business as grown signifi cantly and we intend to extend on this and become a strong brand and name across the area.” Adele Spencer, Director - Eitex.

British Muslim TV, Eitex and Pure Technology are just a small number of successful local businesses within our digital and creative sectors

p1-5 Location Leeds.indd 5 28/08/2019 14:09

6 | LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019

Strength in scienceThe health, science and innovation sector is alive and well in the Leeds City Region.

Known as an area where the fi nest minds thrive, the community is world-leading

Science and innovation have been a core part of Leeds City Region’s identi-

ty for centuries. The city itself has a history of being an epicentre for medical break-throughs and the wider region is making a name for itself in a host of scientifi c fi elds.

Major discoveries in health, that have changed people’s lives the world over, were fi rst unearthed in the Leeds City Region.

In 1824, Thomas Pridgin Teale, then just 22-years-old, became the fi rst provincial surgeon to tie the subclavian artery, one of the major blood vessels going into the arm. The artifi cial hip was also pioneered by Leeds-based pharmacist and surgical instrument manufacturer, Charles Thackray.

Universities, research specialists and manufacturers across the region are integral to developing creating globally-renowned sector specialisms to attract investment.

Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network (Yorkshire and Humber AHSN) represents one of 15 innovative health networks, initially set up in 2013 to create and harness a strong, purposeful partnership between patients, the health service, industry and academia.

Based in Wakefi eld, the organisation has grand plans to make the most of the talent on offer in the region as well as combining efforts across regional boundaries

Yorkshire and Humber AHSN works with the NHS to ground ideas and new technologies in the current system, wheth-er that’s improving frontline care or helping support staff to improve effi ciencies and save money.

The 3M Buckley Innovation Centre in Huddersfi eld has been a landmark

development for the town and a new self-serve digital space and computer-training suite – The Byte – has opened within it, which provides 3D printing facilities as well as equipment for game production.

The centre is a key part of the Hudders-fi eld Innovation and Incubation Project, funded through a £2.9m grant from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal – a £1bn package of government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across the region.

Huddersfi eld-headquartered healthcare technology company Paxman has a long-standing research history with the university dating back to 2011. It is to create a dedicated £1m research centre looking at the benefi ts of scalp cooling technology for people undergoing chemotherapy.

Paxman and the University of Hudders-fi eld have signed a fi ve-year research and collaboration agreement covering the Paxman Scalp Cooling Research Centre.

The centre will focus on biological hair follicle research as well as developing innovative scalp cooling-related treatments and individual 3D-printed cooling caps.

Huddersfi eld’s Innovate Ortho-paedics launched its fi rst product in September 2016 – an implantable titanium metal screw used to fi x anterior cruciate ligament

injuries, commonly sustained while playing football, rugby or skiing.

The University of Leeds has a proven track record of commercialisation, creating more than 110 companies in the last 20 years, six of which are AIM market-listed with a combined value in excess of £500m.

The university’s new Nexus building has been designed as a home for its world-class research, talent and facilities. Opened earlier this year, it is already encouraging closer relationships between the private sector and academia. The new innovation hub has welcomed commercial tenants and is working with some of the UK’s most exciting companies.

To be a success, Nexus will help businesses conduct essential research to develop and test innovative products, de-risk investment in research and innova-tion and provide access to a portfolio of patented technologies and training pro-grammes to develop a workforce. The end goal is to improve business performance,

Health, science and innovation

Agri-food research at NAFIC, Sand Hutton

Paxman has teamed up with the University of Huddersfi eld

Paxman scalp-cooling technology

p6-14 Location Leeds.indd 6 28/08/2019 13:58

LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 7

Health, science and innovation

3M Buckley Innovation Centre

competitiveness and productivity. York St John University is bolstering its credentials in the space. It has a well-respected biomedical science degree and launched fi ve new science undergraduate degrees

this year in mathematics, data science, nutrition, biochemistry and biology.

The National Agri-Food Innovation Campus (NAFIC) at Sand Hutton is a leading centre for agri-food research and is looking to have doubled in size by 2021 with 1,600 employees on site. NAFIC is home to the government’s Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Fera Science, formerly the Food and Environment Research Agency. Fera Science has 600 research and development programmes in subjects such as crop health, food safety and chemical regulation.

Part of the Johnson and Johnson Group, DePuy Synthes’ UK base is in Beeston, in Leeds, and offers the world’s most

comprehensive portfolio of orthopaedic and neuro products and services.

With a base in Barnsley, healthcare technology business Medilink brings together the NHS, academia and industry to stimulate innovation and support the growth of the medical sector. It also provides specialist consultancy services around innovation and commercialisation, international trade, marketing and sector skills provision.

And one company, Silsden-headquar-tered Ethoss Regeneration, has developed a bone regeneration product that helps bed-in tooth repairs. Ethoss’ products are entirely synthetic and free from any animal or human bone material. ■

Paxman has teamed up with the University of Huddersfi eld

Paxman scalp-cooling technology

p6-14 Location Leeds.indd 7 28/08/2019 13:59

8 | LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019

Open for offi ceFrom thriving offi ce parks to boutique offeringsand everything in between, there is a space to suitcompanies of all sizes within the Leeds City Region

Buoyed by the successes of the tech, legal and fi nancial sectors, the offi ce

market is buzzing in the Leeds City Region, drawing attention away from the South East and attracting new occupiers.

As the likes of HMRC and Channel 4 plan to make the move from London to Yorkshire, the Leeds City Region is looking to make the most of the burgeoning opportunities.

In 2018, occupier take-up in the city centre reached a full-year total of 663,233 sq ft, in line with the fi ve-year average of 667,081 sq ft and 18 per cent above the ten-year average of 560,932 sq ft.

Take-up in the out-of-town market also received a boost, reaching 399,582 sq ft, a 24 per cent increase on the previous year.

Visible from the train line approaching Leeds from the west, Wellington Place has proved a signifi cant catalyst for the market. Opening up the West End of the city along

with the Central Square offi ces, it has showcased the potential for development, raising the game for the offi ce market.

The scheme is home to more than 30 organisations, including Sky Betting & Gaming, Shulmans and HMRC. It comprises in excess of 860,000 sq ft of offi ce and retail space.

MEPC has driven the scheme forward and has incorporated allotments, a beehive and retail space into the scheme. The Wellington Place community has even come together to form a choir.

The next building to open will be 7&8 Wellington Place, due for completion at the end of 2019. Number 4 Wellington Place is also under construction and will comprise 156,000 sq ft of offi ce, retail and leisure space when it opens in 2020.

When buildings 7, 8 and 4 Wellington Place are fully occupied, it is estimated that one-in-ten jobs in central Leeds

will be based at Wellington Place. MEPC is also looking at a second phase of development closer to the River Aire, comprising an additional 830,000 sq ft of offi ce space and 250,000 sq ft residential.

Away from Wellington Place, the next chapter for the city centre is the development of the South Bank area on the former Tetley Brewery site as well as CEG’s mixed-use space at Tower Works. CEG’s plans, now approved, will eventually provide 1m-plus sq ft of space for offi ces, retail, leisure, hotel, health, education and community uses.

A new serviced offi ce offering has launched at One Park Row catering to the professional market and has already had success in securing a wide range of new tenants. Avenue HQ on East Parade is catering to co-workers and startup business and is the latest of the Barclays Eagle Labs to be established in Yorkshire, complementing Sheffi eld and Hull.

Bruntwood’s eye-catching Platform development, above Leeds train station, was completed early last year and is now almost entirely occupied.

A city-centre landmark, The Majestic fi rst opened as a 2,400-seat cinema in 1922. It is being transformed to provide 66,000 sq ft of grade-A offi ce space across seven fl oors. Channel 4 confi rmed plans for its new national headquarters earlier this year.

Outside the central Leeds market, towns across the region are aiming to carve out their own niches. Planning permission

Offices

Platform, above Leeds train station

Leeds out-of-town offi ce take-up:

399,582 sq ft in 2018

Leeds city centre offi ce take-up:

663,233 sq ft in 2018

The Majestic, Leeds city centre

p6-14 Location Leeds.indd 8 28/08/2019 13:59

LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 9

their own requirements. Ground-fl oor and fi rst-fl oor offi ce suites will also be available in the original stone building, with off-road parking and loading facilities. ■

partnerships in music, fi lm, TV, design and new media. Once completed, the project will include a new four-storey building, riverside pier and public realm creating a large open-air events space as well as offi ces.

Plans have been submitted for the regeneration of Airedale Mill in Keighley which will comprise commer-cial units that will allow buyers to be able to design and build space to meet

Offices

4 Wellington Place, Leeds

was granted last year for 93,000 sq ft of grade-A offi ce accommodation split across three blocks on the One City Park site in Bradford. Overlooking Centenary Square, the former police station site also known as The Tyrls, will be in the heart of Bradford city centre. Space will be available by 2021. A new 200,000 sq ft Public Service Hub has been designed for 3,500 public sector employees in the centre of Bradford.

Sunny Bank Mills, an iconic mill between Leeds and Bradford where Emmerdale and Heartbeat were fi lmed, has also proved popular with a wide-range of occupiers.

The conversion of Rutland Mills in Wakefi eld will see the creation of a new mixed-use creative quarter for collaborative

Inspiring business spacewww.josephswell.com

A Development by:

0113 2717 221

Bruntwood’s Platform development

p6-14 Location Leeds.indd 9 28/08/2019 13:59

[Wellington Place Beekeeping Classes]

[Wellington Place Street Food & Stalls]

Not your averageday in the office

Leeds

p6-14 Location Leeds.indd 10 28/08/2019 13:59

LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 11

Financial foundationsLeeds is Britain’s second city for fi nancial services. But it isn’t standing

still and is keen to adopt new technologies and companies

That Leeds is a national powerhouse for fi nancial, legal and professional

services is well known. Together they contribute a bumper £20bn in gross value added (GVA) to the region’s economy – more than a third of its total output – and boast 300,000 employees. In the year to March, there was a 22 per cent rise in professional services vacancies in Leeds.

The Leeds City Region is home to 30-plus national and international banks as well as three of the country’s fi ve largest building societies. It is the UK’s second centre for banking.

As a city, Leeds has Britain’s fastest-growing legal sector and has established itself as the country’s second-biggest law hub behind London, with the industry worth £300m a year.

Walker Morris has this summer made the largest professional services relocation in Leeds for 15 years to its new offi ce at 33 Wellington Street.

In accountancy and advisory, both Ian Green and Christine Hewson – the regional heads of PwC and KPMG respectively – are based in Leeds.

There is also signifi cant growth potential for fi ntech (fi nancial technolo-gies), driven by the established fi nancial services sector’s increasing desire to engage with innovation.

created with the potential to increase to 225 over the next few years after opening a new assurance centre. The fi rm has taken more than 9,000 sq ft of space at Godwin Street.

Will Richardson, PwC’s Leeds offi ce senior partner, said: “Bradford is one of the largest cities in the UK, and the youngest [in terms of the age of its population], offering a large and talented workforce.”

Aside from the Lloyds Banking Group, Halifax has benefi ted from insurance companies. RSA and Covea have expand-ed their national operations, additionally attracted by Calderdale’s added value, quality of life and cost-effi ciency.

And York is now an emerging insurance hub, with 4.5 per cent of the city’s GVA attributable to the sector (four times the national average). It provides an alternative location for national and regional offi ces and is home to major international fi rms such as Aviva and Hiscox. ■

Financial and professional services

Central Square, off Wellington Street, where Link Market Services has taken 70,000 sq ft

28,500 people working for banks and building societies in the Leeds City Region

The new Walker Morris offi ce

The area’s reputation for credit reference agencies is well known too. It’s where Transunion, Axiom, Equifax and Experian have chosen to base their operations.

The wider offers of Leeds have also been drawing in fi rms. Australian share registry and fi nancial services provider Link Market Services has taken 70,000 sq ft at the Central Square development, off Wellington Street.

Equiniti Credit Services has grown its workforce by a fi fth to 180 employees following its relocation to a new base at Weetwood.

The city of Leeds isn’t the only story. Santander is offi ced in Bradford, also where the Yorkshire Building Society Group is famously headquartered.

Another major employer is Provident Financial. A signifi cant possible indication of a change in fortunes for Bradford came when professional services giant PwC announced that 60 new jobs are to be

[Wellington Place Beekeeping Classes]

[Wellington Place Street Food & Stalls]

Not your averageday in the office

Leeds

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Selby District - growth at the heart of YorkshireNew investment is opening up big opportunities.Our Create Yorkshire hub at Church Fenton – between York and Leeds - is part of Yorkshire’s rising importance in film and TV production, digital and technology industries, with the move of Channel 4 to the region too. Sherburn2 is one of the most significant new business development sites in the north of England and the redevelopment of Kellingley Colliery is set to bring a boost of over £200m to Yorkshire’s economy.

With Drax Power in our area, we’re right at the heart of the UK’s green energy revolution. We’re home to investment in world-leading carbon capture technology that has the potential to revolutionise manufacturing across the UK and help the country reach our carbon zero target by 2050. This is also supporting new investment in agritech, one of the world’s fastest-growing industrial sectors.

Our companies are investing heavily in the Selby district, including L&G Homes at Sherburn to create a plant that will deliver high quality modular homes across the UK. At Tadcaster, a town with a strong brewing tradition, Heineken has invested heavily in their John Smith’s plant, helping to create new good quality jobs.

Together, these opportunities put the Selby district at the heart of new growth across the north.All of this is supported by a fantastic quality of life – as part of one of the safest counties in England, with great education and a highly skilled workforce. Selby district means business.

“The success of Sherburn as a destination has proved that businesses get much more

for their investment than elsewhere in the region.”

Jeremy Nolan, Glentrool Director, leading on the major new Sherburn2 development.

“We don’t under-estimate the importance of working

in Selby, as there’s a motivated labour force

and superb strategic communications.”

James Earl, Director, The Skills Network, Selby

which is one of the fastest-growing and

successful technology companies in the area.

“The plans for a creative hub at Church Fenton will develop a community that thrives off each other. Our position right in the centre of the economic hubs of Leeds, Hull, York and Sheffield puts us in a strong position to reach out to lots of different clients”.Paul Sherwood, Business Development Manager, Seven Video Productions

Find out more: selby.gov.uk

Selby

LiverpoolManchester

Hull

York

Leeds

Sheffield

Selby

LiverpoolManchester

Hull

York

Leeds

Sheffield

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LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 13

Access all areasOne of the most attractive assets the Leeds City Region has for investors is its connectivity to the rest of the UK. Routes north, south, east and west all run through the area

Yeadon Aerodrome sits only seven miles from Leeds city centre and nine

from the centre of Bradford. Well-known among locals since opening in 1931, the spot holds the title of England’s highest airport with an elevation of 681ft. Of course we now know it as Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) and it has become a key asset to the city region’s economy.

LBA contributes £336m to the region’s economy every year and supports more than 2,350 direct jobs.

AMP Capital purchased it in October 2017 and has been working on a new £25m terminal extension – the largest single investment in the airport’s history – since the spring.

The extension will signifi cantly improve passenger experience, with larger immigration and baggage reclaim areas, better departure gate facilities and additional seating as well as new shopping and food outlets. The extension is due for completion by the end of 2020.

In recent years, passengers have grown signifi cantly – from 1.2 million a year in 1997 to 2.9 million in 2007.

Now welcoming more than 4 million passengers a year, the airport is working on plans to welcome 7 million people per year by 2030.

Initial designs have been developed for a potential new rail link, improving accessibility to and from Leeds, based on expected demand, stakeholder requirements and rail industry standards. It would also boast a 350-space car park and offer park-and-ride opportunities for trips to Leeds, Harrogate and York. A shuttle bus service would provide a short, quick link to the airport terminal.

Leeds train station sees more than 34 million passengers enter and exit every year. It is the 12th-busiest in the UK and third-busiest outside London behind Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central. Sheffi eld and York stations both see close to 10 million passengers a year.

The station is in the midst of a £161m redevelopment to create a new transparent roof making the main concourse brighter

Transport, infrastructure and logistics

Leeds Bradford Airport is really going places

Top destinations – Leeds Bradford Airport (2018 passenger totals):

Alicante

317,280Dublin

289,963 Malaga

282,430

How Bradford Interchange will look

LBA is growing

Selby District - growth at the heart of YorkshireNew investment is opening up big opportunities.Our Create Yorkshire hub at Church Fenton – between York and Leeds - is part of Yorkshire’s rising importance in film and TV production, digital and technology industries, with the move of Channel 4 to the region too. Sherburn2 is one of the most significant new business development sites in the north of England and the redevelopment of Kellingley Colliery is set to bring a boost of over £200m to Yorkshire’s economy.

With Drax Power in our area, we’re right at the heart of the UK’s green energy revolution. We’re home to investment in world-leading carbon capture technology that has the potential to revolutionise manufacturing across the UK and help the country reach our carbon zero target by 2050. This is also supporting new investment in agritech, one of the world’s fastest-growing industrial sectors.

Our companies are investing heavily in the Selby district, including L&G Homes at Sherburn to create a plant that will deliver high quality modular homes across the UK. At Tadcaster, a town with a strong brewing tradition, Heineken has invested heavily in their John Smith’s plant, helping to create new good quality jobs.

Together, these opportunities put the Selby district at the heart of new growth across the north.All of this is supported by a fantastic quality of life – as part of one of the safest counties in England, with great education and a highly skilled workforce. Selby district means business.

“The success of Sherburn as a destination has proved that businesses get much more

for their investment than elsewhere in the region.”

Jeremy Nolan, Glentrool Director, leading on the major new Sherburn2 development.

“We don’t under-estimate the importance of working

in Selby, as there’s a motivated labour force

and superb strategic communications.”

James Earl, Director, The Skills Network, Selby

which is one of the fastest-growing and

successful technology companies in the area.

“The plans for a creative hub at Church Fenton will develop a community that thrives off each other. Our position right in the centre of the economic hubs of Leeds, Hull, York and Sheffield puts us in a strong position to reach out to lots of different clients”.Paul Sherwood, Business Development Manager, Seven Video Productions

Find out more: selby.gov.uk

Selby

LiverpoolManchester

Hull

York

Leeds

Sheffield

Selby

LiverpoolManchester

Hull

York

Leeds

Sheffield

p6-14 Location Leeds.indd 13 28/08/2019 13:59

14 | LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019

as well as a revamped entrance and platform upgrades.

The East Coast Mainline, operated by London North Eastern Railway (LNER), connects Leeds station with Scotland, as well as the south of the county, Peterborough and London King’s Cross in little more than two hours.

Bradford has launched its Northern Powerhouse Rail Growth Strategy, which showcases how improved connections with a transformed interchange on the NPR line would transform the city from an economic and social standpoint. And there are plans to give the train station in Halifax a facelift and reopen its third platform, to create a new Halifax Gateway. The works would see a new transport interchange and car park, revitalising the approach to Halifax town centre.

Huddersfi eld – the third busiest station in Yorkshire catering for 5.1 million passen-gers per year – and nearby Dewsbury sit

on a line with regular services across the north, including a 25-minute commute to Manchester Piccadilly, 17 minutes to Leeds or 23 minutes to Wakefi eld.

As part of a planned £2.9bn upgrade of the TransPennine route, Network Rail has announced it intends to electrify the line between Huddersfi eld and Dewsbury and double the number of tracks from two to four.

Within the Leeds City Region, the key arterial road routes to the rest of the UK are the M1, A1 and M62.

The M1 connects London to Leeds and the A1 runs from Edinburgh to London, skirting through the Leeds City Region. Running a perpendicular route, the M62 is a 107-mile-long west-east trans-Pennine link, connecting Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds.

These roads have proven to be catalysts for business as logistics operators looking to go across the country in all directions.

They have become corridors of innova-tion where international businesses look to be located and world-leading industrial projects will be undertaken and completed.

As such, the region has become a hotbed for logistics operators, working with a range of different operators to enable faster deliveries than ever.

Connections to the EU and even further are crucial and ports at either end of the M62 help enable connectivity. Leeds-based Europa Road has extended its services with the creation of its dedicat-ed new Nordic Hub with daily services to Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

Europa Road is the European road freight division of leading logistics operator Europa Worldwide Group. The Nordic Hub, in Calder Park, Wakefi eld, has been designed to better serve customers based in the north of England who have a requirement to ship part and full-loads to and from the Nordic nations.

Sherburn 2, a new 75-acre logistics and manufacturing park, benefi ts from being a matter of just a few minutes away from junction 42 of the A1(M) linking it to Leeds, the M1 and the M62, the coastal ports of Hull and Grimsby, and regional rail and airports. The new development is set to create around 2,500 new jobs. ■

Transport, infrastructure and logistics

Leeds station

Leeds City Region station entries and exits in 12 months:

Leeds

31.1m York

9.8m Huddersfield

5.1mBradford Interchange

5.1m

Vision for the future outside Leeds station

The region is a hotbed for logistics operators

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LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 15

Big boxesThe industrial property market is buoyant, with high levels of demand. Leeds City Region’s location in the centre of the UK has made it catnip for developers

Squarely set along the M1, A1 and M62, as well as rail links in every direction

and ports on the east and west coasts, Leeds City Region is the perfect choice for industrial developers catering to manufacturers, logistics operators and ecommerce outfi ts.

By basing themselves in the heart of the UK, occupiers can make the most of the region’s connections nationally and internationally to reach customers across every inch of the globe.

Logic Leeds has capitalised on the high demand for new stock and relatively low supply around the city. Situated in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, at junction 45 of the M1, Logic Leeds has planning consent for up to 1.6m sq ft of industrial property.

The park is already home to retail giants John Lewis and Amazon and welcomed Premier Farnell to a landmark 361,000 sq ft facility in April. Recently, project developer

Muse sold the 100,000 sq ft speculative-ly-developed Trilogy@Logic scheme, to the city council. The Trilogy@Logic build-ings range in size from 30,000-37,000 sq ft and are expected to achieve rents in excess of £6.25 per sq ft.

In Wakefi eld, Super G is being developed by Northampton-based real estate investment and development busi-ness Barwood Capital in a joint venture with the BA Pension Fund and develop-ment manager Tungsten Properties.

Based at Whistler Drive, Castleford, just off junction 32 of the M62, south east of Leeds, the development forms part of the Glasshoughton Development site and consists of a single 258,000 sq ft warehouse. Sportswear giant Puma agreed to occupy the warehouse for its national distribution centre on a 15-year lease at a rent of £5.75 per sq ft.

Sherburn 2, a new 75-acre logistics and manufacturing park in Sherburn-in-Elmet,

is set to create around 2,500 jobs. The business park is wholly-owned and fully-funded by Glentrool and is next to the existing Sherburn Enterprise Park, where occupiers include Debenhams, Sainsbury’s, Optare and Eddie Stobart. Glentrool is now working in conjunction with the council to try and attract busi-nesses to take up space at the Sherburn 2 development. Last year, a 50,000 sq ft distribution warehouse was pre-sold at the business park for £4.5m. The new owner will be fi lm products manufacturer Cromwell Polythene and the site will cater for its growing business.

The former Kellingley Colliery is also a signifi cant focus for the region. Closed in

December 2015 and resulting in signifi -cant job losses, the site was bought by developers Harworth in March 2016.

The 151-acre site was given planning permission to transform it into 1.45 million sq ft of manufacturing and distribution space a year after Harworth’s acquisition. The move could create up to 3,000 jobs

Industrial property

Logic Leeds

Logic Leeds

Kellingley

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16 | LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019

and bring £200m to the local economy. Harworth’s plans for the site have been granted planning permission and it will be able to accommodate units ranging from 17,000 to 600,000 sq ft.

Leeds-based developer, Gregory Property Group, has just completed a speculative development of Park 32, a 150,000 sq ft production and distribution project close to junction 32 of the M62 between Castleford and Pontefract. Marshall Construction built the £15m development, just opposite Pontefract Racecourse, ahead of schedule and Gregory has already agreed terms for a sale of the fi rst unit.

Park 32 comprises four purpose-built units ranging from 12,000 to 82,500 sq ft to suit a variety of occupiers for distribution, industrial and storage. The development is in an established spot next to Park Side Retail Park. Occupiers include Wickes, Currys, PC World, Halfords and McDon-ald’s. Travis Perkins already occupies an adjoining unit and the former Prince of Wales Colliery is under redevelopment.

Caddick Construction completed Cros-spoint 33 in Knottingley last year. A 1.3m sq ft distribution centre for TJX Europe, the site also has three-storey offi ce accommo-dation, a non-merchandise store, battery charging unit and recycling facilities.

Plans are still coming forward to make the most of the high demand in the region.

Commercial Development Projects, supported by Turley, has submitted an application to Wakefi eld Council for a 529,500 sq ft warehousing unit on an agricultural site at Havertop Lane in Normanton. The site is close to junction 31 of the M62 and a number of existing employment developments, including Normanton Industrial Estate, Trident Park and Link 62. ■

Industrial property

Super G, Puma’s new residence in Castleford

Nine key industrial sites

Logic LeedsLocation: J45 M1, LeedsOccupiers: Amazon, John Lewis, Premier FarnellSpace: 1.6m sq ft

Sherburn 2 Enterprise ParkLocation: Sherburn-in-Elmet, close to the A162 bypassOccupiers: Under constructionSpace: 1.25m sq ft

Moor ParkLocation: Slipper Lane, Mirfi eldOccupiers: In developmentSpace: 185,000 sq ft

Crosspoint33Location: J33, M62, near Wakefi eldOccupiers: TK Maxx, Home SenseSpace: 1.2m sq ft

Park 32 PontefractLocation: J32, M62, near Wakefi eldOccupiers: In developmentSpace: 150,000 sq ft

Summit 24Location: Lindley Moor, Huddersfi eldOccupiers: Marshall ConstructionSpace: 250,000 sq ft

Gateway 45Location: Junction 45, M1, LeedsOccupiers: BP, SparSpace: 2.64m sq ft

Kellingley Colliery RedevelopmentLocation: A645 Weeland Road, KellingleyOccupiers: In planningSpace: 1.45m sq ft

Gateway 36Location: Junction 36, M1, BarnsleyOccupiers: Motor Depot, Greene KingSpace: 250,000 sq ftHow the Sherburn 2 Enterprise Park will look

Park 32, Pontefract

ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT BY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

IT’SGOOD

MISS PHASE

FULLY PRE-LET BEFORE COMPLETION ! 1( (

15,000 & 55,000 sq ft

Phase 2 Comprising 2 Brand New High Quality Industrial/Warehouse Units

T O L E T

p15-22 Location Leeds.indd 16 28/08/2019 14:00

ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT BY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

IT’SGOOD

MISS PHASE

FULLY PRE-LET BEFORE COMPLETION ! 1( (

15,000 & 55,000 sq ft

Phase 2 Comprising 2 Brand New High Quality Industrial/Warehouse Units

T O L E T

p15-22 Location Leeds.indd 17 28/08/2019 14:00

Leeds UTC specialises in engineering

OPENING JANUARY 2020

WWW.LEEDSSKELTONLAKESERVICES.CO.UK

• Less than 15 minutes from Leeds City Centre• Excellent links with the motorway network North, South, East and West• Leading brands secured for our Food Court

Building including LEON, Harry Ramsdens, Starbucks, KFC, Pizza Express and more

• Business Centre facilities• 100-bedroom hotel• Fuel filling station open 24/7, 365 days a year• Upper-floor Visitor Centre, community space and viewing deck overlooking Skelton Lake and the surrounding landscape• Undulating ‘Living Green Roof’ tying into the natural landscape• 3 hours free parking

Combining an exemplar design with a complementary wide range of popular brands and facilities, Leeds Skelton Lake Services will be an attractive place to eat, meet, relax, stay or simply take a break.

LEEDS SKELTON LAKE SERVICES IS A ‘NEW CONCEPT’ £60M MOTORWAY SERVICE AREA

AT JUNCTION 45 OF THE M1 ADJACENT TO LEEDS ENTERPRISE ZONE.

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LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 19

Advanced advantageThe Leeds City Region is the UK’s largest manufacturing employment centre, worth more than £7.7bn a year. But the ambitions are for much, much more

The region should become a £100bn economy by 2036 if plans by the Leeds

City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Strategic Economic Plan succeed. Manufacturing will play a major part.

The industry has been going some way to achieving that recently. The area was in the top rank nationally for the number of manufacturing inward investment projects in 2018.

These included GAMA Healthcare open-ing its £4m research and development facility in Halifax and Ireland’s temperature and pressure instrumentation manufacturer Eurolec launching a research and develop-

health product engineering throughout the region.

Leeds Council and the University of Leeds have high hopes for a global centre for advanced rail and high speed technolo-gy, rail research and manufacturing around the planned Institute for High Speed Rail and System Integration (IHSRSI) next to the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone.

The Leeds Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been consulting with businesses and individuals to help shape the region’s Local Industrial Strategy. Such business support is important, particularly for grow-ing manufacturers. More than 1,600 from across the region have been supported by the LEP’s Growth Service since 2015.

Signifi cant regional projects include the Manufacturing Growth Programme, the PAPI – Product and Process Innovation – offering 40 per cent grants for the purchase of equipment, and the Leeds City Regional Supply Chain Programme working with manufacturers to help improve their supply chain activities.

Notable business expansions recently include the UK arm of sweet giants Haribo which is set to increase production at its Castleford factory, creating 50 jobs. And A-SAFE, manufacturer of protective polymer barriers, is investing in premises and machinery at its Elland facility which will see it create 50 jobs too. ■

Manufacturing

A-SAFE in Elland

Leeds UTC specialises in engineering

ment division at the Science Park in York.

The region has the greatest concen-tration of high-value manufacturers in the UK. Strong links between academic research and pro-duction are helping that. It can boast the greatest number of STEM students and graduates outside London.

The region’s nine universities produce

over 15,000 STEM graduates each year, while facilities such as the £5m Kirklees College New Process Engineering Centre and the £11m University Technical College (UTC) in Leeds specialise in engineering.

More broadly, institutions like Hudders-fi eld’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, the Biorenewables Development Centre in York and research at the universities of Bradford and Leeds are at the forefront of future manufacturing processes.

West Yorkshire has pockets of advanced manufacturing including medical tech-nologies in Airedale, north of Bradford, turbo-charged production from Bradford to Halifax and Huddersfi eld, and medical and

144,000people working in manufacturing in the LCR

7,300manufacturing and engineering businesses

4,800companies specialising in advanced processes

OPENING JANUARY 2020

WWW.LEEDSSKELTONLAKESERVICES.CO.UK

• Less than 15 minutes from Leeds City Centre• Excellent links with the motorway network North, South, East and West• Leading brands secured for our Food Court

Building including LEON, Harry Ramsdens, Starbucks, KFC, Pizza Express and more

• Business Centre facilities• 100-bedroom hotel• Fuel filling station open 24/7, 365 days a year• Upper-floor Visitor Centre, community space and viewing deck overlooking Skelton Lake and the surrounding landscape• Undulating ‘Living Green Roof’ tying into the natural landscape• 3 hours free parking

Combining an exemplar design with a complementary wide range of popular brands and facilities, Leeds Skelton Lake Services will be an attractive place to eat, meet, relax, stay or simply take a break.

LEEDS SKELTON LAKE SERVICES IS A ‘NEW CONCEPT’ £60M MOTORWAY SERVICE AREA

AT JUNCTION 45 OF THE M1 ADJACENT TO LEEDS ENTERPRISE ZONE.

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20 | LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019

The University of Leeds’ Nexus development

Leisure, retail and culture

Leeds International Festival

The region has inspired legendary artists from JMW Turner to David Hockney and

is home to Screen Yorkshire, which works to bring Hollywood talent to the area. From bustling cities to picturesque countryside, stately homes and stadiums, the region has just about everything.

For sports enthusiasts, Headingley Stadium has undergone a facelift for both rugby and cricket fans, while Leeds United continue their quest for a place in the Premier League and world champion boxer Josh Warrington regularly fi ghts in front of his home crowd.

The live music scene in Yorkshire is one of its key selling points. From tiny venues to arenas and stadium gigs, there’s an act to see every night. Leeds’ First Direct Arena hosts live music, stand-up comedy and sport.

The magnifi cent art deco Bradford Ode-on is in the process of being transformed into a new 4,000-capacity live music and events space Bradford Live. Due to be completed in 2020/2021, the project aims to schedule more than 200 shows a year and attract hundreds of thousands.

Since its renovation, Halifax’s Piece Hall has become a prominent live-event venue and Hebden Bridge’s Trades Club has a reputation for having one of the best small stages in the UK. Then there’s Leeds Festival which attracts major names like Foo Fighters, Post Malone and The 1975.

Harrogate has long been thought of

as a traditional spa town with some lovely restaurants and green spaces. While that is still the case, the town has been upping the ante in terms of major international events. The 2019 UCI Road World Cham-pionships will see top cyclists descend on Harrogate between 22 and 29 September.

Six weeks later, the UK’s biggest comic festival, Thought Bubble, will follow suit, relocating to the town’s convention centre from its original home in Leeds.

Meanwhile, the redevelopment of the town centre and market, plus the new library are giving Barnsley a new lease of life. The £130m Glass Works scheme, funded by Barnsley Council, will reinvigor-ate the retail and leisure side of the town. The Glass Works will provide 26 new shops and a revamped restaurant offering.

Leeds is the main centre for a spot of retail therapy. Its compact city centre is ideal for shoppers who can walk from John Lewis in Victoria Gate to the Trinity Centre in under ten minutes.

The Springs at Thorpe Park, just off the M1, is an all-round leisure destination. Its Odeon Luxe Dolby Cinema has proven to be a key attraction. For art afi cionados, the region has a long history of fostering

talent such as Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Damien Hirst. The Hepworth in Wakefi eld and Leeds Art Gallery are nationally-recognised cultural centres.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, just outside Wakefi eld, sits in the 500-acre estate of Bretton Hall and has been attracting art lovers since it opened in 1977. The Yorkshire Sculpture International event is a festival of sculpture across Leeds and Wakefi eld that has seen major installations erected across the region. Leeds Interna-tional Festival also showcases the work of artists over a two-week period.

Food and drink are key drivers for the visitor economy and Leeds boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant in The Man Behind The Curtain, headed up by ‘hair-metal’ chef Michael O’Hare.

The history of York will always be an attraction, while the city’s legendary racecourse brings in the crowds and hosts Ebor Festival at the end of August. Follow-ing a debut event in 2018, the city will also host the second York Mediale in autumn 2020. The 10-day programme in 2018, included extraordinary installations, world premiere performances, cutting-edge tech-nology and a four-day symposia series. ■

The cultural capital of the Leeds City Region is a key selling point. From festivals, sport, a food and drink offering that’s the envy of the north, there’s so much to see and do

Sights and sounds

Yorkshire Sculpture International Victoria Gate, Leeds

Bradford Live

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LOCATION: LEEDS CITY REGION | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 21

Education and skills

Leeds City College’s Quarry Hill Campus

Supporting skillsThe Leeds City Region is home to stand-out universities, industry-leading colleges and an ambition to equip incoming generations with skills that can benefit them for decades

Professor Shirley Congdon has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor at The University of Bradford and is already looking at ways to expand its international reach. The university’s forensic science and chemical engineering courses are seen as some of the best in the UK. Its distance learning MBA was named by the Financial Times as the best in the world in terms of value for money.

With more than 1,200 staff and 20,000 students, Leeds City College is one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships nationally. It is part of the Luminate Education Group, which also includes Keighley College, Harrogate College and Leeds College of Music.

In September 2019, Leeds City College’s £60m Quarry Hill Campus will be home for close to 3,000 students studying creative arts and social science.

The Leeds City Region boasts the UK’s only specialist further education construc-tion college, Leeds College of Building. It works with companies from across the UK ensuring its teaching is relevant for the modern construction industry.

The college expanded its estates portfolio in July when it offi cially opened phase two of the South Bank Campus. The £13m, 56,000 sq ft state-of-the-art development has a range of classrooms, workshops and a dynamic central atrium.

Bradford College is one of the largest providers of higher education outside of the university sector with a student body of 20,000. Further East, Selby College is pushing for exceptionalism and achieved a 100 per cent A-level pass rate across all subjects, with more than half of students achieving high grades and a fi fth at grades A* to A.

To the south of the region, Barnsley College is making waves of its own. Another Outstanding-rated college, more than two-fi fths of the student population at Barnsley are over 19 and the college ranks much higher than the national average in terms of successful apprenticeships. ■

Universities and education centres are anchor institutions in any region.

Some of the largest employers, they also indirectly increase employment through the supply chain.

The universities of Leeds and York are both recognised internationally as leading organisations with a heavy emphasis on research. While away from those institutions, there’s a strength in developing skills, business studies, the arts, energy and advanced manufacturing.

The University of Leeds’ Nexus development has been designed to encourage closer relationships between the private sector and academia. The new innovation hub is working with some of the UK’s most exciting companies.

Dating back to the early 19th century and the founding of Leeds Mechanics Institute in 1824, Leeds Beckett University has gone through various guises and grown to around 2,900 staff and more than

28,000 students from almost 100 countries around the world. It is now investing in an £80m creative arts building complete with music spaces, TV and fi lm studios, a 220-seat cinema, recording studios and theatre.

The University of Huddersfi eld has completed its £30m Barbara Hepworth Building – home to art, design and architecture. Classed as gold-rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework, the university is number one in England for the proportion of staff with teaching qualifi cations. The University of York opened in 1963 with 230 students, but has now expanded its student body to more than 18,000, generating in excess of £1.8bn in economic impact for the UK.

With 7,200 students, York St John University is forging crucial links with the National Agri-Food Innovation Campus at Sand Hutton. Companies within it include Fera Science, formerly the Food and Environment Research Agency.

The University of Leeds’ Nexus development

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Great places to live

The former Tetley Brewery site on the South Bank in Leeds will be transformed

A place to call your ownLeeds City Region is a place you can call home. Housebuilders are making the most of

the opportunities to create fresh communities and widen access to new homes

Strong demand across the residential sector has helped bring forward

groundbreaking schemes designed to suit emerging demographics across the Leeds City Region.

By next year, Leeds will have the seventh fastest growing population in the UK. There are now more than 12,000 residents in the city centre with the fi gure expected to grow to in excess of 20,000 over the next decade.

The city is building houses at a faster rate than the rest of Yorkshire, delivering more than 3,000 homes a year.

Leeds outperformed all other main metropolitan districts and cities in terms of housing growth over the last three years, with only one local authority area, Tower Hamlets in London, building more.

Caddick Developments is behind the £300m, 685,000 sq ft SOYO scheme. More than 700 homes plus offi ce and retail space will be built next to West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds College of Music, BBC studios and the Northern Ballet headquar-ters. Situated on the historic Quarry Hill

site, SOYO will bring signifi cant numbers to the city centre.

CEG has also started its £350m development in the South Bank to bring nearly 750 homes onto the market, in addition to the latest phases of Kirkstall Forge, which will create 112 houses and apartments just a six-minute train ride away from Leeds city centre.

The former Tetley Brewery site on the South Bank gained approval in October 2017. The aim is to create 850 homes and bring more residents into an expanding city centre.

CITU’s Climate Innovation District is the biggest urban sustainable develop-ment in the UK. The completed homes are the fi rst to have been built in Leeds city centre for more than 90 years. The site encourages people to walk or ride bikes rather than taking the car to work.

In Bradford, renovation of Hallmark House and grade-II listed Conditioning House is set to bring close to 300 homes. Work will start on almost 150 houses with-in the £150m New Bolton Woods urban

village development, near the city.

And regeneration developer Urban Splash has created unique rooftop penthouse ‘pods’ at Lister Mills.

SKA Develop-ments has unveiled its vision for The Greater Waterfront Quarter which will transform a long-neglected

urban environment into a vibrant community of people and businesses.

The vision for the scheme sets out provision for housing, business, artisan shops, leisure facilities, community attractions and a health centre a ten to 15-minute walk from the urban centre of Huddersfi eld. SKA has ambitions to complete the project as early as 2022.

SKA is also due to start work on the redevelopment of the Co-op building in Huddersfi eld, representing the fi rst project within Kirklees Council’s regeneration plan. SKA’s scheme will create a total of 135 student bedrooms in 75 apartments.

Wakefi eld Council’s City Fields scheme (formerly known as Wakefi eld East) meas-ures 375 acres and is earmarked for 2,500 homes, leisure, retail and commercial space, as well as a new relief road. It could support the creation of 3,200 jobs. ■

A new home in CITU’s Climate Innovation District, Leeds

SKA Developments’ vision for Huddersfi eld’s Co-op building

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