A ground-breaking £20 million project has culminated in the unveiling of West Village, a new innovation hub in Leeds city centre. The space is designed to foster innovation and collaboration among diverse businesses.
Nestled in the heart of Leeds, West Village offers 230,000 sq ft of workspace, aimed at supporting the city’s thriving culture of creativity and economic growth. With 75% of the space already pre-let, it stands as a testament to the ambitious redevelopment efforts driving the city’s digital economy.
Revolutionary Workspace for Innovation
West Village boasts a state-of-the-art workspace designed to stimulate collaboration among like-minded businesses. It provides a mix of co-working, serviced, and leased spaces, tailored to the needs of startups, SMEs, and large corporations. This infrastructure is essential in supporting business growth and flexibility.
The innovative hub is already home to global insurtech innovators, such as QBE, which has established its robotics and technological development centre here. Australian fintech company PEXA and leading coding bootcamp providers Northcoders are also among the early occupants, further emphasizing the hub’s appeal to forward-thinking enterprises.
Commitment to Sustainability
The redevelopment project focused heavily on sustainability. The building features high-efficiency air source heat pumps, sensor technology for natural ventilation, as well as new windows and additional wall insulation. These enhancements aim to reduce CO2 emissions, improve air quality, and promote the reuse of rainwater.
Additionally, efforts have been made to create habitats for local birds and wildlife, thereby integrating the hub with its natural surroundings.
The workspace design emphasizes sustainability and well-being, featuring an expansive entrance space with a shared lounge, breakout spaces, meeting rooms, a café, and a central courtyard rich in biophilia.
Wellness and Facilities at West Village
West Village offers some of the city’s best wellness facilities with the RESET Leeds wellness centre. Operated by FORM, it includes Yoga, Pilates, Barre classes, mindfulness sessions, and more.
The building further supports well-being with a mindfulness contemplation room, a nursing and expressing room, the city’s largest secure cycle storage facility, a sports kit drying room, and premium shower, changing, and locker facilities.
These amenities underline the hub’s commitment to fostering a positive work-life balance for its occupants, making it a holistic environment for both work and wellness.
A Broader Vision: 14 King Street
In conjunction with West Village, Bruntwood SciTech has also completed the refurbishment of 14 King Street. Located within Leeds’ business district, this workspace enhances the city’s innovation cluster.
14 King Street is home to various forward-thinking businesses including Stantec, Optical Express, and Trinity College London’s language school, all benefiting from the prime location between West Village and the city’s dedicated Tech Hub at Platform.
The strategic location facilitates the formation of a robust community of innovation-led businesses, encouraging new connections and collaboration opportunities.
City-wide Investment in Innovation
Bruntwood SciTech’s investment extends beyond Leeds, encompassing Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham. Over the past year, the company has invested £314 million into workspaces, bringing 1.45 million sq ft of state-of-the-art workspace to market.
This extensive development underscores the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and providing dynamic work environments across major UK cities.
Such investments are pivotal in ensuring that businesses have the infrastructure needed to thrive and adapt in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
Strategic Collaboration and Support
The development of West Village was made possible through partnerships with a range of contractors and consultants, including Robertsons, Cubic Works, 3D Reid, I Want Plants, and DWLLP.
Support from CBRE and Knight Frank has been instrumental in the hub’s operational success, ensuring that West Village meets the highest standards of functionality and service.
Future Impact and Growth
West Village and 14 King Street are set to play a pivotal role in bolstering Leeds’ status as a leading technology ecosystem. Andrew Cooke, Regional Director for Bruntwood SciTech, highlighted the importance of these developments in providing forward-thinking workspaces that encourage collaboration and innovation.
The unveiling of West Village marks a significant milestone in Leeds’ journey towards becoming a top-tier technology ecosystem. With its innovative design, commitment to sustainability, and holistic wellness facilities, West Village sets a new standard for workspaces in the city.
As businesses continue to move into West Village and 14 King Street, Leeds’ reputation as a hub for innovation and creativity is poised to grow even stronger. The city stands ready to welcome the future of business and technology with open arms.