Bruntwood SciTech Launches Leeds’ West Village, delivered by Robertson

A 230,000 sq ft redevelopment project has reimagined the former site of West One and Castle House in the heart of Leeds, creating a state of the art workspace designed to help ‘innovation thrive and stimulate collaborations between like-minded businesses’

Already 75% pre-let at launch last month, West Village was developed and is operated by Bruntwood SciTech - a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund - and was delivered by principal contractor Robertson Construction Yorkshire & East Midlands.

West Village comprises a new four-storey extension with external green living walls with two private garden terraces and offers a new mix of coworking, serviced and leased workspaces for innovation-led businesses of all sizes. The redevelopment also benefits from new finishings in the central courtyard with expansive ‘biophilia’ which will be used as a flexible event and outdoor communal space that is available to both businesses located at West Village and the general public.

Businesses already confirmed to make West Village their home include global in surtech innovators QBE - who have located their robotics centre and technological development hub at West Village, Australian fintech company, PEXA, and leading coding boot camp providers Northcoders.

The design of the new workspace has sustainability and wellbeing at its heart, and is focused around an expansive new entrance space with shared lounge, breakout spaces and meeting rooms. It also has a café operated by independent retailer Second City Coffee and art curated through a partnership with Leeds University students.

Improvements have been made to the building to reduce CO2 emissions, improve air quality, reuse rainwater, reduce noise and create new habitats for local birds and wildlife.

As part of the redevelopment, the building has been fitted with high efficiency air source heat pumps, sensor technology to promote the use of natural ventilation, new windows and additional wall insulation.

Jonathan Sizer, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Yorkshire & East Midlands, said:

“West Village gives Leeds a state-of-the-art workspace that has the flexibility to respond to the needs of a diverse mix of tenants. It doesn’t just look fantastic - wellbeing and sustainability run through the whole of the project and it’s clear it will be a catalyst for innovation and collaboration in Leeds for years to come."

Andrew Cooke, Regional Director - Leeds, Bruntwood SciTech, said:

“West Village is the culmination of a hugely ambitious and important redevelopment project for the city. Leeds has built a reputation as a leading technology ecosystem and for good reason, with hundreds of innovative businesses now calling the city home."

“Having already built a successful ecosystem of tech-led businesses at nearby Platform, we are excited for West Village to join and build this community, ultimately adding to Leeds’ burgeoning technology status.”

West Village marks the culmination of an ambitious development project by Bruntwood SciTech - a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.