Australian company Pexa is to set up its UK HQ in Leeds as it seeks to revolutionise the country’s current conveyancing process with its world-first digital property exchange process.

It has chosen 114 Wellington Street in West Village, Leeds, for its new UK headquarters, and will collaborate with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority as it sets up its new headquarters and prepares to invest in the region and its workforce.

West Village – developed by Bruntwood as part of the £200m Bruntwood Works Pioneer programme to create cutting-edge workspaces of the future – is due to open in autumn, and PEXA has taken more than 8,100 sq ft at the newly transformed development. It intends to move in by December.

PEXA have been advised and supported throughout the process by Charles Parkinson from CBRE’s Advisory & Transaction Occupier team in Leeds.

PEXA Group MD and CEO Glenn King said the strong financial services sector in the city, with a presence from the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority and UK Infrastructure Bank, along with the depth of legal and professional services firms, made a compelling case for PEXA’s decision to base its headquarters in Leeds.

PEXA will engage a local design firm to curate the office fit out with a focus on sustainable products, natural light, and greenery, with a relaxed and flexible space which will take inspiration from the city of Leeds and in keeping with PEXA’s vision as a proud disrupter unlocking value in property. 

PEXA launched in the UK last year, seeking to transform the UK’s 150-year-old conveyancing process, enabling digital remortgage transactions to streamline the process. Digital transactions reduce the associated time, risk, and costs in the remortgage process for consumers, lenders, and conveyancers alike. PEXA also aims to expand its product offering to sale and purchase digital transaction capability.

Property investment specialist Helmsley Group is celebrating another profitable year for the business, having invested £17m in properties across Yorkshire over the last year on behalf of its client investors.

The York-based business, which has reported a year-on-year increase in profits of circa 20% across the Helmsley Group of Companies, has also seen further consistent growth in its network of over 800 client investors.

The positive performance comes following a milestone year for Helmsley, which included the submission of plans for Coney Street Riverside, a once-in-a-generation scheme that seeks to significantly regenerate York’s underutilised riverfront.

It has also continued to invest in its specialist team of property professionals, with head of asset management, Alexia Swift-Cookson, having been made a director, and Tom Riddolls having joined as a development surveyor.

Earlier this year, the Helmsley Group of Companies announced the launch of Yorcation, a holiday lettings specialist aimed at helping owners of holiday lets provide the best possible guest experience.

Richard Peak, Managing Director at the Helmsley Group, said: “With my 25^th anniversary of working with the business approaching, I have spent time reflecting on Helmsley Group’s success to date. I’m hugely proud of the continued investment and impact that we have made across the Yorkshire region, with these results demonstrating that property continues to be a secure investment, despite ongoing market volatility.

“We have always prided ourselves on investing and developing in the areas we know and understand best, so as to deliver the best possible returns for our client investors, and this year has been no exception. We want to say a huge thank you to all of the team for their ongoing hard work and their commitment to this strategic, sensitive approach to property.”

Three major occupiers have taken up two floors at Fiera Real Estate UK (FRE UK) and Opus North’s completed building, 12 King Street, in the heart of the Leeds Business District.

Global consultancy, Arcadis, is set to shift their local team to 12 King Street. Michael Page, a leading UK recruitment company is also set to occupy a floor in the building, relocating staff from their current location in Leeds.

Reward Finance Group, a market leading funding provider, are the third party to sign up to the landmark building, which comprises 54,000 sq ft of Grade A space. These three occupiers join Endless and Rothschild who recently relocated their Leeds offices to 12 King Street.

A significant £11m transformation of the building, which was completed in June 2022, includes a striking new facade, a complete replacement of the fifth and sixth floors, a state-of-the-art cycle spa, extensive roof terraces and the addition of a sky lounge which offers a unique communal space for occupants.

Sustainability and environmental considerations have also been at the forefront of the design of the redevelopment. The scheme has achieved a 14% reduction in carbon emissions, 29% less energy consumption for heating and cooling, and 42% less water consumption.

Ryan Unsworth, joint Managing Director at Opus North, said: “We are thrilled to secure three more major occupants who are relocating their main offices in Leeds to 12 King Street. It’s a real testament to what is happening in the office market – occupiers are seeking the very best, most-inspiring, workspaces for their teams and clients, as well as demanding buildings with strong sustainability and environmental credentials.”

Chris Button, head of value add at FRE UK, added: “We are delighted to have secured three market-leading occupiers for this landmark building, which has been substantially remodelled and refurbished to achieve our ambition of delivering a cutting-edge office space that promotes wellbeing and a truly future-proofed building in one of the UK’s major regional markets.”

Clair McGowan, associate director at CBRE, said: “This is truly a spectacular building which provides inspiring spaces to encourage creative thinking, team collaboration and social interaction. It is the workplace of the future following a comprehensive refurbishment with flexibility and technology at the heart of its redesign.

“It is also a healthy building that encourages wellbeing and productivity, a real draw for office professionals returning to the workplace. We are delighted to secure all three parties in this state-of-the-art building in a prime location in the city.”

Nick Salkeld, director at Fox Lloyd Jones, said: “We’re very proud to have acted on these significant lettings proving the demand for quality workplaces within the Leeds office market. 12 King Street has set a new benchmark for its combined sustainability, wellbeing and digital connectivity features and it’s a true testament to welcome more major businesses.”

A further floor and half is under offer and in legals, leaving just 12,000 sq ft remaining ready for occupation, with CBRE, Fox Lloyd Jones and Knight Frank acting as letting agents on the scheme.