The landmark former offices of a regional daily are to be demolished within weeks after being sold for redevelopment.
Contracts have finally been exchanged on the sale of the 4.75 acre former Yorkshire Post offices in Wellington Street, Leeds.
The buyer is a Yorkshire-based private investor who now intends to demolish the iconic building.
A previous attempt to get it listed as an example of brutalist modern architecture failed and the paper has reported that demolition work is expected to begin in three to four weeks.
The former YP/YEP building at Wellington Street
The building is one of scores of current and former newspaper offices that have been marketed for sale by Johnston Press through a special property website set up specifically for the purpose.
The value of the deal has not been disclosed but given the size of the site is certain to run into millions.
First opened by Prince Charles in 1970, the building was put up for sale in 2012 after the print plant there closed and YP and Yorkshire Evening Post staff moved to their new offices at No 1 Leeds.
Plans are now being worked on for a number of possible uses, including a conference centre, offices, a hotel, private residential and leisure facilities or a combination of these in a major mixed-use scheme.
Paul Fox, of joint agents Fox Lloyd Jones, who sold the site on behalf of Johnston Press plc, said: “We received a wide range of differing interests in the site reflective of its commanding gateway position and the additional benefit of the unexplored riverside frontage.
“The successful purchaser demonstrated an ability to perform unconditionally and swiftly, and shared the city’s aspirations for a major landmark scheme for Leeds.
“It is an extensive site, which will become more apparent once the building is demolished and the area is opened up, which is expected by the end of June.
“It is undoubtedly one of the best development opportunities to come to the market in Leeds in recent years.
“The west end of the city is currently seeing significant activity with a number of high quality mixed-use schemes now being brought forward.
“We believe that the Yorkshire Post site will provide the perfect extension and gateway to this activity, as the city centre grows in that direction.”
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What a pity that the Yorkshire Post building is to be demolished in a shameful round of Johnston Press architectural asset-stripping. Not only was the structure a superb place in which to work but, certainly when I was a news sub there from 1984 to 1986 under late editor John Edwards, the entire workforce – not least reporting and production teams – matched the best anywhere. The Wellington Street site cemented the YP at the heart of its community as Yorkshire’s national ‘daily’. Beating Fleet Street with stories such as the Brighton Bombing was a regular claim to fame because of the flexibility of late deadlines, our own delivery vans and a high-speed rail link to London. Not everything under United Newspapers was perfect – a nine-week annual holiday agreement proved too good to last – but they were decent employers who treated staff fairly and with respect. Can the same be said of Johnston Press? Answers on a postcard to the former Yorkshire Post HQ!
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Yes, those were the days when it really was THE Yorkshire Post. Great staff, great editor and a decent employer.
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I spent just short of 40 years working in the YPN building. Editorial was in the octagonal bit on the right-hand side of the photo above. There were no windows, which we thought was a deliberate design because we might spend time looking out of them instead of working. We once included a request for windows with our annual pay claim. We got the pay rise but not the windows. But it was a fantastic place to work. You knew you were part of a team of real pros. There were 200 editorial staff on the YP and YEP. I was 22 when I started there from a weekly, and learned so much from the older hands. Since leaving in 2012 aged 62 I’ve toyed with the idea of going back for a last visit to the editorial hall before the building comes down. But it’ll be deserted and silent. No hum of activity, No keyboards clacking, no ‘phones ringing. No banter. Maybe it’s best just to keep the memories. To any former colleagues from 1972 to 2012: it was a privilege to work with you. Peter Lazenby.
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You Yorkshire Post types seem to forget that it was the cash cow Evening Post that kept you elite lot afloat. It was also a damn fine paper.
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In agreement with first two comments. As an employee of YPN, staff entered the building, through the front doors if they wished, with pride. The public were welcomed into a huge reception area, a far cry from having to be directed, passed litter, to the back entrance used by staff and for deliveries. The entire workforce not only excelled in their jobs, but acknowledged that other departments were skilled at theirs. Salespeople respected that Publicity or Newspapers Sales knew what they were doing. All departments requiring artwork or visuals gave good briefs and received award-winning (not internal awards!) from Creative Services. The place was full of staff though, so of course the atmosphere wasn’t there towards this building’s end. Due to JP only taking 2 or 3 floors in their new office block, redundancies were made. Bet the turnover of staff these days is considerable, whereas in the old building you knew many faces for years.
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The people of Leeds demand whatever goes up in its place also has a clock and thermometer.
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