Wellington Place Sportive Success

More than 140 cyclists took part in the inaugural Wellington Place Sportive in support of the Leeds Community Foundation.

The riders could choose from three routes, a 25km (15 miles) route for beginners, a 55km (34 miles) intermediate route, and a 75km (46 miles) route for experienced riders.

People from across the Yorkshire business community took part, taking on the challenging routes through the Yorkshire Dales, with the routes starting at Threshfield and taking in Kettlewell, Arncliffe, Halton Gill, Malham, Hetton, Linton and Grassington.

Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive of MEPC, said: “The Wellington Place Sportive set out to celebrate the great things that are happening in Leeds right now including the Tour De France, which starts in the city next year, while also raising much-needed funds for the Leeds Community Foundation.

“The setting and scenery of the whole ride was simply stunning; the good people of Yorkshire are blessed with the best cycling roads in Britain I reckon, certainly the steepest.

“We could not have imagined that it would be so well supported and enjoyed. After the amazing feedback, we most definitely plan to do the same next year.

“We would like to thank all our sponsors, including the Yorkshire Post, Bond Dickinson, CJCT, DTZ and GMI Construction Group for their support.”

First in was Bruce Rollinson of The Yorkshire Post, who completed the route in an impressive 2hr 14min.

Click here to see pictures from the day.

The Leeds Community Foundation helps to improve the quality of life for people in the Leeds area, to make a donation please click here.

Join the Wellington Place Charity Cycling Extravaganza

MEPC Wellington Place is challenging the local business community to get into gear and sign up to its charity cycling Sportive.

As excitement mounts ahead of the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in Leeds next year, Wellington Place is calling on cycling enthusiasts to don helmets and get on their bikes for a chance to cycle part of the route British heroes like Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish will follow next year.

Hoping to recruit a Leeds-based peloton of riders, Wellington Place is offering a free designer jersey to all those who sign up before the 14th July. They may not be yellow but will definitely make the riders look, and feel, the part.

Dominique Simcox, Marketing Manager at MEPC Wellington Place, said: “Everyone in Leeds and the wider Yorkshire area is understandably excited ahead of next year’s Tour de France, so there is definitely a buzz around our Sportive.

“Our charity Sportive is not only encouraging business people in Leeds to put their cycling skills to the test, but also allows them to take in some of the route for next year’s race, ahead of the professionals and raise money for some great local causes.”

The Wellington Place charity Sportive will take place on September 20th, departing from Grassington, North Yorkshire. There are three distances to suit all abilities and entry fee is £45 per cyclist plus a voluntary donation to the Leeds Community Foundation, which helps to improve the quality of life for people in the Leeds area.

Dominique Simcox said: “The Sportive is raising money for a great local cause and we hope to see a lot of names from prominent companies on the list. Wellington Place has always had close links with cycling. We even offer free bike hire to all of our occupiers– whether they want to cycle to a meeting or into town.

“This event is taking that link further and calling on the local business community to get involved. Places are available for a limited time only, so if anyone fancies themselves as the next Bradley Wiggins, they should sign up early to avoid disappointment.”

To find out more visit www.wellingtonplace.co.uk/sportive and keep up- to-date on latest Sportive news by following on Twitter @WP_Sportive or like us on Facebook

Ground breaking ceremony marks the start of construction at Wellington Place

On Wednesday, May 15th, a breaking ceremony took place at the site of 10 Wellington Place to signal the start of construction on the first new-build, Grade A office development in Leeds City Centre for five years, perhaps marking the beginning of a recovery in Leeds’ commercial office market.
MEPC Chief Executive, Rick de Blaby, officially commenced construction when he broke ground at 10 Wellington Place - a striking, £5.5m, five storey building. Mr de Blaby said:

“This ground breaking ceremony marks a critical new phase for Wellington Place and creates a new page of history for this important site in Leeds.

“We salute Shulmans for being the first to take the strategic decision to invest in a new move for their business to 10 Wellington Place and we are delighted to invest in the building and domain to accommodate them.

“We are now looking to invest again in further buildings, as the indications are that there are other companies looking to follow in the footsteps that Shulmans has taken.

“The development of Wellington Place seems to chime with a wider sense of confidence which is gathering momentum in Leeds, with the opening of the fabulous Trinity Centre, the excitement of the new Leeds First Direct Arena and the exhilaration around the Tour de France starting in Leeds in 2014.

“An important pre-let like this at 10 Wellington Place is something we think will catalyse more activity at Wellington Place, taking us towards the fulfilment of our original vision of making this the exemplary five-star urban quarter for the West End in which people will want to live, work and enjoy their time.”

Wellington Place is the largest regeneration site under single ownership in Leeds City Centre. It was previously home to Leeds Central Railway Station for 119 years, before the station was closed in 1967 and all of Leeds’ train services were consolidated at Leeds City Railway Station.

10 Wellington Place is the third phase of a 14-phase development which will offer 1.5 million sq. ft. of commercial, retail, leisure and residential space in the heart of Leeds.

The offices will be built by the national contractor, Shepherd Construction. When complete in June 2014, the BREEAM Excellent-rated building will benefit from the ever-growing social amenities of Wellington Place facing the new public square.

Award-winning commercial law firm, Shulmans, will be the first firm to move into the new office development, relocating from its current base at 120 Wellington Street. Tim Halstead, Shulmans’ managing partner said:

“We are delighted to be the first occupants of what will undoubtedly prove to be a landmark development in the city.

“Our move to 10 Wellington Place represents a significant investment for Shulmans and is reflective of our successful growth plans.

“Five years ago we put into place a highly specific programme of growing the business by 50 per cent in five years and we are bang on target; this relocation is another step forward in that programme.”

Shulmans will join existing occupiers such as Sky, Allianz, Towers Watson, Irwin Mitchel, RSM Tenon and PwC which already have offices at Wellington Place.

Mr de Blaby said he hoped to announce another pre-let later this year.

“When the recession really took hold, it was common for developers to mothball their sites but as long term investors we were keen to establish a sense of place and community at Wellington Place, which is why we established 5-a-side football facilities, allotments, beekeeping, temporary landscaping and a busy events programme which encourages both residents and workers in Leeds to engage with the site.

“This approach is indicative of how Wellington Place aims to offer the most compelling proposition to occupiers. At Wellington Place we can justifiably prove we offer the best location, the best building, and the best overall deal in Leeds. But in a world of scarce capital for new development, it is critically about offering the most deliverable proposition too, and MEPC can deliver new development as evidenced here.”

Planning permission was granted for 10 Wellington Place, a 35,000 sq. ft. building in September 2010.

That permission includes plans for a further 106,000 sq. ft. of office space at 3 Wellington Place, 155,000 sq. ft. at 4 Wellington Place and a further 59,000 sq. ft. at 5 Wellington Place.

MEPC appoints Shepherd Construction to build 10 Wellington Place

Offices To Let

MEPC has appointed Shepherd Construction to create a 35,000 sq ft office development at Wellington Place in a contract worth £5.5 million.

The 12-month contract will see Shepherd Construction deliver the BREEAM Excellent-rated five-storey building, together with landscaping around a new public square.

In doing so, they will create what is thought to be the first new build grade A office development in Leeds city centre for five years – and launching the next phase of growth at Wellington Place.

MEPC Chief Executive, Rick de Blaby, said: “Construction of 10 Wellington Place marks the start of the next phase of development, with planning permission granted for a further 300,000 sq ft of office space here in the heart of Leeds’ West End.

“Like MEPC, Shepherd is a long-established company which has become an industry leader by delivering the highest levels of quality and by working closely with its clients at all stages.”

Work on the building – which was designed by CJCT – is due to commence next month and is expected to last 12 months.

Colin Sargeant of Shepherd Construction said: “As well as delivering much-needed high quality new office space in Leeds city centre, this scheme is a landmark development for Leeds, which will also create excellent retail facilities on the ground floor and a new public square.

“More importantly, 10 Wellington Place will mark a turning point in the development of Leeds city centre, with more to come after several years of little to no new activity.”

Two phases of Wellington Place have already been completed and the scheme has already become a blue-chip address with occupiers including insurance giant Allianz, consultancies Tower Watson and PricewaterhouseCoopers, and BSkyB.

Planning permission was granted for 10 Wellington Place in September 2010 as part of a major mixed use development to create a five star destination on the largest site under single ownership in Leeds.

That permission includes a further 106,000 sq ft of office space at number 3 Wellington Place, 155,000 sq ft at 4 Wellington Place and a further 59,000 sq ft at 5 Wellington Place. Law firm Shulmans is the first to announce it will be moving into the new office development, when it relocates from its current base at 120 Wellington Street.

Mr de Blaby added: “Starting work on 10 Wellington Place is an exciting moment for us, and for Leeds city centre, but is only the first step towards developing the rest of the Wellington Place estate.

“We are already in talks with several potential occupiers for some of the other developments and look forward to being able to continue to build our business community.”

The agent that acted on behalf of MEPC in this transaction was Jeff Pearey at Jones Lang LaSalle. DTZ is a joint letting agent.

MEPC announces Leeds' first new office build in five years

Office Developments Leeds

Work is set to begin next month on Number 10 Wellington Place, a 35,000 sq ft, five storey new office development which is thought to be the first new build grade A office development in Leeds city centre for more than five years.

Construction is due to commence after award-winning commercial law firm, Shulmans, confirmed it would take 15,000 sq ft across two floors of the development in Leeds’ West End.

Work is expected to begin in April 2013 and is expected to last 12 months.

Once complete the BREEAM Excellent-rated building will benefit from major social amenities including ground floor retail space facing a bustling new public square.

Shulmans will then be the first to move into the new office development, relocating from its current base at 120 Wellington Street.

Tim Halstead, Managing Partner of Shulmans, said: “We are delighted to be the first occupants of what will undoubtedly prove to be a landmark development in the city. Our move to 10 Wellington Place represents a significant investment for Shulmans and is reflective of our successful growth plans. Five years ago we put into place a highly specific programme of growing the business by 50 per cent in five years and we are bang on target; this relocation is another step forward in that programme.”

MEPC Chief Executive, Rick de Blaby, added: “Shulmans joins a great line-up of existing companies at Wellington Place, including BSkyB, Allianz, Towers Watson and PwC.

“There is something big going on in Leeds right now with the opening of Trinity, the completion of the new arena this autumn, and the Tour de France next year.

“With today’s news, MEPC is adding to this growing momentum within Leeds by providing great companies like Shulmans with an exemplary new workplace in the West End’s new urban quarter.

“We believe 10 Wellington Place will be the first new build grade A office development to be completed in Leeds city centre for five years, since The Mint in Holbeck was completed in 2009 and while building 10 Wellington Place will bring great satisfaction to us, it is only the start of our next phase of development at Wellington Place.”

Planning permission was granted for the building in September 2010 as part of a major mixed use development on the largest site under single ownership in Leeds.

That permission includes a further 106,000 sq ft of office space at number 3 Wellington Place, 155,000 sq ft at 4 Wellington Place and a further 59,000 sq ft at 5 Wellington Place.

By breaking ground on 10 Wellington Place, MEPC will be leading the next phase of regeneration in the West End of Leeds, which is aimed at creating a five star destination in the heart of the city centre.

Further additions to the city such as Leeds Arena and Trinity Leeds will only serve to accelerate that development, Mr de Blaby added.

He said: “We see the start of work on 10 Wellington Place as very much the first step towards developing the rest of the Wellington Place estate.

“We are already in talks with several potential occupiers for some of the other developments and look forward to being able to continue to build our business community.”

The agent that acted on behalf of MEPC in this transaction was Jeff Pearey at Jones Lang LaSalle. DTZ is also a joint letting agent.

Wellington Place lunchtime experiences brings you sushiboy sushi school

We have got together with sushiboy sushi school to bring Wellington Place occupiers a hands on sushi making experience.

The classes will take place on Thursday 11th April from 12pm - 1pm or 1.10pm - 2.10pm at Wellington Central. Each class is £5 per person, per session.

Take part in a hands on sushi making class and learn the skills to make perfect sushi!

 The 1 hour session includes:

• A little background knowledge about sushi

• How to make the perfect sushi rice

• How to make rice seasoning

• How to make different types of sushi using a variety of ingredients

• How to present sushi

At the end of the session you’ll walk away with a sushiboy step-by-step recipe e-book with everything you’ve learned alongside a rolling mat and of course a bento box full of the sushi you made on the day.

Each session is £5 per person. For Wellington Place occupiers only.
Places are limited, to reserve your place please contact dsimcox@mepc.com stating which session you would prefer.

Charity Touch Rugby Competition

Corporate teams are invited to play in a touch rugby competition which is being organised by the Rugby Football League and is raising funds for Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice.

The competition will take place on the afternoon of the 5th April at Wellington Place. All abilities are welcome. The event costs £100 per team of up to 12 players (with 6 playing at any one time). All funds raised will go to Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, who care for people with incurable illnesses from across the Leeds community.

Teams who have entered so far include DTZ, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Walker Morris, Blacks Solicitors, Begbies Traynor, Towers Watson, RSM Tenon and a team of Barristers practising in Leeds

For more information and to register your team please contact Joe at Sue Ryder on joseph.clark-bland@suerydercare.org before the 22nd March.

Street food pop-ups coming to Wellington Place on Friday 22nd March

2013 is set to tickle your taste buds with more fantastic street food pop-ups coming to Wellington Place.

We have got to together with the NorthernStrEats team to bring the best in sustainable and locally-produced food to Wellington Place for you to enjoy.

The next pop-ups will be Fish& and El Kantina  who will be located in front of the old lifting tower at Wellington Place from 12.00-2pm on the 22nd March.

Once a month you will see different traders  ‘pop up’ at Wellington Place to bring you a great variety of memorable and tasty freshly-cooked food.

For more info visit:- www.northernstreats.co.uk

Twitter: @NorthernStrEats

Facebook: Northern StrEats

Your chance to grow at Wellington Place!

Wellington Place is offering all Leeds-based companies the chance to grow their own fruit and veg in the city for a year in one of our exclusive urban gardens.

The 6ft by 4 ft foot urban garden will provide the winning company the opportunity to work together as a team, sharing the responsibility for tending the garden between all employees throughout the year.

As well as acting as a valuable team-building exercise, gardening can have a whole host of social benefits including boosting physical and mental health, improving the environment, strengthening communities and growing fresh, healthy food.

A total of 21 small, urban gardens have already been snapped up by surrounding companies which say that the daily gardening has helped bring employees together at lunchtime and encouraged friendly competition between businesses, as well as reducing stress and proving to be a good source of exercise.

Wellington Place initially introduced 12 urban gardens in 2009 but has expanded the site to accommodate a further nine plots due to popular demand.

The urban gardens were developed as part of MEPC’s pledge to create a vibrant, business community during the downturn. While many of the UK’s developers opted to mothball paralysed sites, MEPC bucked the trend and invested £1 million turning part of its 22 acre Wellington Place site into an area that could be enjoyed by those who live and work in the surrounding area.

For your chance to become part of the Wellington Place city centre resource, email dsimcox@mepc.com before 28th February with the reason why your company should be the one to tend to the urban garden up for grabs.

The January 2013 British Military Fitness Offer, UK’s no. 1 for outdoor fitness

British Military Fitness (BMF) is the UK’s largest provider of exercise classes which take place in the great outdoors in parks throughout the country. Each class lasts for an hour and caters for all levels of ability and the BMF instructors ensure that no one is made to feel left out. They will motivate participants, and above all, make it fun.

The BMF offer for you is:

    A FREE trial session before the end of January 2013
    Join in January and pay nothing until 1 February (on a six month minimum contract)
    A FREE 21 day nutrition plan from The Food Doctor
    No joining fee if you join within 24hrs of your last trial class

To redeem the offer please click on the following link https://www.britmilfit.com/try-bmf-for-free/ and enter the following promotional code ELLBMF when you sign up for the ‘try a free class’.

Leeds Commercial Property Market 2013 Insight with Rick de Blaby

The commercial property market in Leeds has been subdued in recent years, but as we enter 2013, the city is seeing what could be the green shoots of a possible recovery.

Here, MEPC Chief Executive Rick de Blaby shares his thoughts on why he thinks the city can finally look forward with confidence, after years of having little to celebrate.

“The property market has not been at its strongest since the recession hit the UK in 2008, with new builds having to be put on hold due to a lack of confidence and financial backing,” said Mr de Blaby.

“However, many of these projects are now back underway due to growing optimism within the sector.

“The new Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre is leading the way but this could potentially be the tip of the iceberg in terms of developments.

“The office space market is also picking up considerably and many major companies are beginning to realise the vast potential that the city can provide for their businesses. I’ve personally had some exciting conversations which have further enhanced my belief in the sector.

“If you look at 2014, 2015, 2016, there are quite a lot of requirements coming through with nobody adding to supply in the city. That produces some exciting market dynamics.

“I believe we will see the start of some exciting developments in 2013, with more and bigger deals being done than we have seen for a few years.”

What do you think? Let us know us know your thoughts by tweeting us @wp_leeds using the hashtag #LeedsProperty.