A chartered surveying firm has invested more than £60,000 in a prominent, 2,060 sq. ft. office at 64 Wellington Street in Leeds – a Caddick Developments’ property. The move marks the firm’s ambitious growth intentions as it heads into its 21st year.
Lucas Lee also provides building consultancy services and is renowned for project managing the prestigious build and renovation of Ripon’s 5-star hotel, Grantley Hall. The firm has taken on three new staff and has commenced recruitment for three extra staff in a bid to increase its Leeds presence.
Employing 17 people across its new office and existing Huddersfield office, Lucas Lee provides project management, building surveying and quantity surveying expertise on contracts ranging from £10,000 to £100m+ in a variety of environments, such as residential, office, retail, leisure, listed building and industrial unit schemes.
The office deal is welcome news in Leeds’ commercial property market. There have been some concerns about what occupier demand may look like due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Lucas Lee’s agent, Cask Zero, had targeted Wellington Street for some time after recognising its strategic position with transport links with the firm’s Huddersfield office. Cask Zero approached Sanderson Weatherall, which represented Caddick Developments in the deal, to lease all four floors of the building.
By sheer coincidence, Lucas Lee had occupied the basement of 64 Wellington Street until 2002.
Christopher Lee, managing director of Lucas Lee, said: “Our Leeds relocation – which is in the heart of the city – represents our long-term commitment to supporting the regrowth of the region’s property market. As well as offering flexible options to work from home, we believe it’s important to have an office base in what is an incredibly important city to Lucas Lee.
“Expanding our presence is a key strategic growth priority for us, which requires a modern, eco-friendly office environment where we can foster talent, embrace technology and meet with our clients.”
New IT systems are also being invested in, to create a more efficient working process for clients.
Alistair Smith of Caddick Developments commented: “I am delighted to have Lucas Lee as the new tenant at 64 Wellington Street. Sanderson Weatherall provided a great service with the various restrictions they were required to manage to bring the deal to completion during the Coronavirus lockdown.”
Richard Dunn, head of office agency at Sanderson Weatherall added: “64 Wellington Street has been refurbished to a high standard and is a great new office for Lucas Lee. Located right in the heart of the city’s business district and alongside many new office developments, Wellington Street is a superb location to enjoy a wealth of amenities as well as being surrounded by some of the city’s leading occupiers.”
A spokesperson for Cask Zero said: “Several deals have fallen though on Wellington Street in the last 18 months and dealing with Sanderson Weatherall was a pleasure – one of the quickest deals this year.”
Earlier this year, Lucas Lee and Grantley Hall were awarded the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ award for Social Impact. The hotel was also named the second-best new luxury hotel in the world.
