RSM UK is under offer to lease 25,000 sq ft at the £100m Central Square development in Leeds.
The international accounting and consulting firm, previously known as Baker Tilly, will consolidate its 230 staff currently dispersed across a number of offices in Leeds into the 11-storey building on Wellington Street.
Rival accountant PwC has already signed for 55,000 sq ft at the 220,000 sq ft speculatively built scheme.
Roydhouse Properties and Marrico Asset Management are joint development managers of the project, which was forward-funded by M&G.
RSM UK will pay a rent of £26.50 per sq ft for the space.
The letting leaves around 120,000 sq ft available in the building, which is competing for tenants with a growing number of new developments in Leeds.
MEPC will soon complete two office blocks at the nearby Wellington Place, and Bruntwood has around 33,000 sq ft left to lease at Sovereign Square.
The completions are expected to lift total grade-A availability in the city to around 360,000 sq ft next year, well above the 250,000 sq ft long-term average.
Matthew Tootell, director of national offices at Bilfinger GVA, said: “We had a lack of supply of grade-A that is now being pulled through in Leeds city centre.
“While Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow are over £30 per sq ft, we are still in the mid to late £20s, so we will certainly see rental growth coming through.”
JLL acted for M&G; Sanderson Weatherall represented RSM UK.
louise.clarence-smith@estatesgazette.com
