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Developers to build 18-storey tower at newspapers’ former HQ

Plans to build an 18-storey tower on the site of two sister dailies’ former offices have been confirmed.

Contracts have been exchanged for the first phase of a planned development at the past base of the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post, in Leeds.

The landowner, Stirling Investments, aims to develop an 18-storey block of 242 apartments at the Wellington Street site along with some ancillary commercial spaces on the ground floor.

Following detailed pre-application talks, a reserved matters planning application is to be submitted in October with building work expected to be complete by mid-2019.

An artist's impression of the new development

An artist’s impression of the new development

Paul Fox of Fox Lloyd Jones, acting as Development Managers on the scheme, said: “There has been much talk about the drive for build to rent schemes in Leeds and other key provincial cities to respond to changing market dynamics and it is exciting that this will be one of the first real schemes to come out of the ground in Leeds.

“With such a high calibre operator on board we are very positive over the detailed planning dialogue ahead and excited to be kick starting a high quality regeneration of an iconic Leeds site.”

Wellington Street was the YP and YEP’s home from 1970 to 2012.

Demolitions crews cleared the 4.6 acre site in 2014 and only the landmark clock tower remains of the old newspaper office building.

Both newspapers are now based a five-minute walk away at No 1 Leeds, on Whitehall Road.