Green light for £62m McLaren student scheme in Leeds

Grant Prior 4 years ago
Share

Leeds City Council has given the green light to McLaren Property’s application to convert listed former council-owned buildings to a 17,490 sqm student accommodation development with 473 beds.

The new £62m development repurposes the Leonardo Printworks, the Leonardo building and Thoresby House in the Civic Quarter of Leeds City Centre, as well as new accommodation on the former car park site.

Construction is due to start next month and to complete by August 2023 in time for the 2023/2024 academic year.

The new student accommodation will be within 5-10 minutes’ walk of The University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett and Leeds Teaching Hospital.

McLaren Property, architects Cartwright Pickard and heritage consultant ID Planning worked closely with Leeds City Council to revisit previous commercial proposals for the site and to improve the retention of historic features. Leonardo Printworks and Thorseby House are Grade II listed Victorian buildings.

Re-purposing of the listed elements as well re-use of the modern building structure substantially reduces the embodied carbon of the new development.

Operational carbon emissions are minimised through connection to the city council’s low-carbon district heating system, as well as through a thermally efficient fabric and the use of rooftop photovoltaic panels.

McLaren Property’s Regional Managing Director, Tom Gilman, said: “There was a great meeting of minds on this project, especially given the complexity of the listed buildings and that it is McLaren’s first student project in Leeds. From a standing start in December when we first began looking at the site it has taken just seven months to get to a minded to grant in July.

“McLaren as a business has invested significantly in Leeds and recognises the huge opportunities in the City. We are excited about continuing to work with the council on planned commercial and build to rent projects on Wellington Street.”

Leeds City Council’s Director of City Development, Martin Farrington, added: “It is really positive to see McLaren Property’s sensitive reuse of the council’s Leonardo and Thoresby buildings as new accommodation for students in Leeds City Centre.

“The redevelopment will bring additional footfall into our city centre which will help boost our post covid recovery that is already enhanced by proposals from the British Library, National Infrastructure Bank and the Bank of England, all looking to locate into our city centre.

“I look forward to seeing McLaren’s development take shape and complete in 2023.”

McLaren Construction is on a major recruitment drive following a string of contract wins as the economy continues to recover.

The contractor has teamed up with recruitment specialist Fawkes & Reece to identify great people to join the business. For more details about opportunities and how to get in touch click here.

Latest news

Balfour Beatty terminates Danny Sullivan labour deals

Around 500 workers on HS2 will be moved to alternative agencies or be taken on direct
1 day ago

Trio face prosecution after Hinkley site death

Main contractors and client to face charges over death of site supervisor
1 day ago

Buyers see recovery in house building sector

But civil and commercial work still in the doldrums
2 days ago

Apprentice saws-off thumb on hotel refurb site

Court hears how digit was reattached and teenager continued training with another firm
2 days ago

Laing O’Rourke tops June contracts league

£919m animal super lab dominates new orders
2 days ago

TSL turnover smashes £500m as profit almost trebles

Data centre and logistics contractor rises high on surging demand
2 days ago

Gleeson Homes chief exec leaves business after restructure

Management revamp after "challenging" year
2 days ago

Green light for 1,600-home Oldham town centre overhaul

Plans for over 1,600 homes across six regeneration sites approved
2 days ago

DSM wins Norwich city centre clearance job

Anglia Square shopping centre clearance for £300m scheme
2 days ago

13-year-old becomes UK’s youngest qualified digger driver

Grandson of Gallagher Group chairman sets industry record
2 days ago

Cubby reborn in £12m Svella-backed takeover

£50m revenue target set as 14 firms combine under new Cubby Group banner
3 days ago

North East NHS trusts plot £3bn health estate overhaul

Market engagement begins for major construction push across four trusts
3 days ago

HG goes green on cranes in £1.2m switch to battery power

Diesel-free crane drive cuts fuel bills by 94%
3 days ago

Developer fined £165,000 for fire safety failings

Firm ignored fire safety orders on apartment job in Preston
3 days ago

Bidding to start for £1.8bn North West framework

Contractors invited to bid for latest Procure Partnerships deal
3 days ago

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
4 days ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
4 days ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
4 days ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
4 days ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
5 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
4 days ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
4 days ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
4 days ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
5 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
5 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
5 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
6 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
6 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
5 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
6 days ago