One of Yorkshire’s largest law firms, hlw Keeble Hawson, has signed a lease for the mezzanine floor at Evans Property Group’s newly refurbished Capitol office building in Bond Court.
hlw Keeble Hawson, which has offices in Leeds, Sheffield and Doncaster, has signed a long-term lease for the c.5,000 sq ft mezzanine floor in a relocation from East Parade and will occupy the new premises from March.
Paul Trudgill, managing partner, hlw Keeble Hawson, said; “Leeds is a major hub for professional services and its office market is experiencing unprecedented levels of demand. The firm has enjoyed a presence here for many years and our move to Bond Court – a prime office location in the heart of the city – is a formative development which will support our vision and growth.”
Since the completion of Evans’ investment into the comprehensive refurbishment of Capitol, the building has attracted high levels of interest. This year planning practice, Quod North, has relocated its Leeds office into Capitol and the UK’s leading car information expert, CAP Automotive Ltd, has expanded its Headquarter operations within the building.
Continuing its expansion, CAP has now taken a further 7,000 sq ft in Capitol, comprising the second and third floors in the east wing, taking its total space to circa 21,500 sq ft. CAP Automotive is the industry-leading supplier of used car valuation data and other essential services for the UK motor trade and consumers. In November last year, the company was bought out by US firm Solera Holdings Inc. CAP has been in occupation within Capitol for some nineteen years and now has a 166-strong workforce.
The new lettings which total 11,500 sq ft leave only the first floor west wing of 3,500 sq ft available to lease within Capitol, demonstrating the market demand for quality office space within the key Bond Court location which connects the city’s traditional commercial district with its retail core.
The Evans Property Group is a long established private property investor and developer, with a property portfolio consisting of Grade A investment properties with secure long leases together with a substantial development land bank. Evans is a major investor in Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region and its transformations of Capitol and neighbouring Minerva have created over 50,000 sq ft of much-needed Grade A office accommodation.
The investment into the offices forms part of Evans’ ongoing £25m programme of works transforming the whole Bond Court area of Leeds City Centre. GMI Construction is presently on-site with Evans’ new 95 bed 5* hotel and extensive Bond Court public realm works are also scheduled.
Alan Syers, Portfolio Director at Evans Property Group, said; “To be in the position where just half a floor remains within Capitol so soon after its completion demonstrates the demand within the city and confirms that the timing was right to undertake the refurbishments both here and at Minerva. We are delighted to be able to accommodate CAP’s continued growth within Leeds and to be welcoming hlw Keeble Hawson to our tenant mix. The Leeds office market is certainly gathering pace and with the continued shortage of available Grade A space, we are confident that similar occupation levels will be achieved at Minerva for occupiers seeking the highest quality within the heart of the city.”
JLL and CBRE are agents on Capitol and JLL represented hlw Keeble Hawson.
