Watkin Jones has secured planning consent for the conversion and re-purposing of the vacant Headrow House office block in Leeds into 230 co-living homes.
The scheme’s online amenity provision will comprise a high-quality gym, shared kitchens and dining areas, a cinema, co-working lounge, library, laundry room and bicycle parking, in addition to personal storage rooms.
Watkin Jones also intends to retain the retail units on the ground floor of the block, which is a short walk from Leeds train station. By reusing the historic building, the scheme will reduce embodied carbon by 78% and Watkin Jones intends to use sustainable landscaping throughout.
Iain Smith, planning director at Watkin Jones, said: “We are very excited to announce planning approval for Headrow House, our first co-living project in Leeds. Ranked the third largest city by population in the UK, Leeds is a vital commercial and residential centre, and we are committed to providing high-quality, sustainable co-living accommodation that will help to address the on-going demand for rental homes in Leeds city centre.
“We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with Leeds City Council and our local communities to address this growing demand, while also supporting our ESG targets as a business.”
