Town Centre Securities has submitted more detailed plans for a 320,000 sq ft office development in Leeds as it looks to respond quickly to a potential government signing for a giant civil servant hub.
The Government Property Unit is nearing the end of its search for its circa 500,000 sq ft requirement in the city. The hunt is being driven by HM Revenue & Customs, which is planning to close 137 offices and replace them with 13 new regional centres, including one in Leeds by 2019.
TCS has submitted a reserved matters application for the 320,000 sq ft offices and 500-space multi-storey car park at No 2 Whitehall Riverside. In a statement, TCS said the decision to make the application and move the existing outline permission forward “has been prompted by the current GPU requirement that has shortlisted the riverside location”.
Shortlisted schemes also include MEPC’s Wellington Place. MEPC made contingency plans for a government signing, submitting proposals earlier this month for a new eight-storey office building at 7 and 8 Wellington Place. Comprising 377,215 sq ft, the building could accommodate a large chunk of the requirement.
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