Plans for 9 Wellington Place have been given the green light by Leeds City Council.
The latest addition to the MEPC developed urban quarter will provide 176,413 sq ft of office and 6,851 sq ft of ground floor retail and leisure space.
Bringing hundreds more jobs to the Leeds city centre business destination, 9 Wellington Place includes the latest in building design and cutting-edge sustainability features, including solar panels and air source heat pumps, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of energy efficiency.
The planning approval also signifies the creation of over an acre of outdoor spaces which will include a quarter of an acre of new planting, including 39 new trees. The space will be open for both Wellington Place occupiers and the local community to enjoy, with MEPC having recently invested £1.1m into improving the development’s outdoor realm.
The news comes after the Wellington Place development was described by Leeds City Council members as a ‘jewel in Leeds’ crown’ during a pre-application meeting earlier this year.
In a rare move for a building of this scale, councillors unanimously agreed for the planning application to be determined by delegated powers, rather than by Leeds City Council’s planning committee. The determination has now taken place, with final permission granted.
Paul Pavia, commercial director at MEPC, said: “We are delighted that Leeds City Council has approved the 9 Wellington Place development. At MEPC, we pride ourselves on building to the highest standards of design and sustainability, and 9 Wellington Place is a shining example of this commitment.
“Alongside 11 and 12 Wellington Place, it will be one of the most sustainable buildings in the UK, with its carbon emissions rate set to be 35% less than the standard building regulations target emissions rate, and an additional 15% less than the local planning requirement.
“We’ve been seeing high levels of demand for top-quality office space that puts sustainability at its heart, so are very glad to be able to meet the needs of the region’s business community by delivering 9 Wellington Place.
“Recognising our responsibility as a developer to enhance spaces not only for our occupiers, but for everyone who lives and works in the city, we will be delivering high quality public realm so that people can enjoy the area adjacent to the river.
“Ultimately, 9 Wellington Place, alongside the wider Wellington Place development, will play a key role in cementing Leeds’ status as a leading city on the national stage, and a fantastic place to live and work.”
Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The development of Wellington Place and its part in the wider regeneration of the West End has been critical to Leeds’s continued growth as a major centre for employment at the heart of the UK, as well as our post-pandemic recovery.
“This latest phase of the scheme will bring significant job opportunities, chiming perfectly with our aim of driving inclusive growth for all while also enhancing Leeds’s regional, national and international reputation as a great place to live and do business.
“It’s really pleasing to see MEPC putting environmental performance at the core of the building design, which in turn contributes to our ambitions to be a net zero city by 2030.
“We will watch with interest as 9 Wellington Place starts to take shape and eventually becomes another high-profile and welcome addition to our city’s skyline.”
Tony O’Brien, partner at Sheppard Robson, the architecture for 9 Wellington Place, said: “It’s fantastic to see 9 Wellington Place, an important project for Leeds, progressing thanks to this latest milestone. We have been involved in the wider Wellington Place development for some time and its impact on the rejuvenation of the city centre cannot be underestimated.
“9 Wellington Place puts the latest in building design at the forefront and benefits from a clear vision to create a highly sustainable development for this key, gateway site.”
