A joint venture between funds managed by Europa Capital and Addington Capital, the property and investment asset management specialist, has sold the Elbow Rooms, 64-68 Call Lane, Leeds for £4 million. The building, which was once one of Leeds’ most popular nightclubs, has been sold to the private investment vehicle of a high-net-worth investor. The joint venture partnership acquired the 24,000 sq ft property out of receivership in 2016 and Addington has since been asset managing the property. It obtained consent for a change of use to offices and refurbished the second and third floors whilst retaining the locally well-known Elbow Rooms branding. The basement, ground floor and first floor are now let to Revolution de Cuba, the popular Cuban tapas cocktail bar. The third floor (4,500 sq ft) is fully let to Parallax, a fast-growing digital agency headquartered in Leeds. Last year North Property Group took 2,100 sq ft of office space on the 2^nd floor on a 5-year lease at £25 per sq ft. A remaining 2,100 sq ft of space is still available to let via agents Carter Towler. Matthew Allen, principal at Addington Capital, said: ”Once stripped back, the characterful upper floors at the Elbow Rooms has enabled us to design and deliver much-in-demand creative and modern office accommodation in the lively heart of the city. Leeds has a growing innovative and enterprising local economy, and we are delighted to have harnessed this demand to attract a vibrant array of tenants and now a buyer for the building.” Cushman & Wakefield advised the vendors.

Developer Wykeland Group has unveiled plans to bring the landmark former Burton building in the heart of Hull back to life. The building, on the corner of Whitefriargate, close to Queen Victoria Square, has been vacant since the fashion store closed its doors after owner Arcadia went into administration in 2020. It was purpose-built as a fashionable men’s tailor shop in 1936 for company founder Montague Burton and, with its striking art deco facade, the building is one of the most distinctive in the city centre. Having acquired the Grade II listed building, Hull-based Wykeland has now announced plans to conserve and regenerate the building. Wykeland has submitted a planning application to Hull City Council for the extensive repair, refurbishment and conversion of the building to create a prime retail or restaurant space on the ground floor, with offices on the upper floors. The imposing building features polished granite cladding, full height windows to the upper floors and decorative columns and balconies. However, it has fallen into disrepair over time, with the building’s fabric in poor condition, internally and externally. A number of cladding panels are defective, including cracks that have allowed water penetration into the building. The steel-framed, single-glazed windows are in poor condition, with corrosion and distortion to many of the frames and damaged glazing. The internal plasterwork is also damaged, with brickwork exposed in many places. The plans put forward by Wykeland include complete replacement of the cracked and worn cladding. The project would also involve replacement of all the windows with new metal-framed, double glazed units and creation of a new entrance facing Whitefriargate based on the design of the original Burton shopfront. The building also has an internal art deco-style metal cage lift, which is being refurbished and brought back into use, while the plans also include recreating a parapet at roof level with the Burton name, which was once a key feature of the building. Tom Watson, development surveyor at Wykeland, said: “Since acquiring the building, we’ve worked closely with our expert consultants, Historic England and Hull City Council’s Conservation Officer to bring forward these proposals. “We plan to deliver a sympathetic regeneration of the building, saving a landmark, listed building from dereliction and bringing an important commercial space in a prominent city centre location back into use. “We have invested significantly in Hull city centre over many years, including in Whitefriargate, and the acquisition and proposed reinvigoration of the Burton building underlines our commitment to the heart of the city.” The building has four floors, plus a basement, with a total of 11,000 sq ft of space. The proposed retail or restaurant area on the ground floor will offer 2,000 sq ft of floorspace, with the first, second and third floors each covering 2,600 sq ft. Jonathan Stubbs, development director at Wykeland, said: “We identified the significant potential this building offers and were pleased to secure it following the collapse of Arcadia. These plans will enable the building to have a long-term, commercially viable future. “Once redeveloped, this will be a fantastic opportunity for businesses to move into a landmark building in a prime location in the heart of Hull. “That potential has been reflected in interest we have already received in the building as we have developed our plans to bring it back into use.” Subject to planning approval, work on the building is expected to begin in early 2023. The project is expected to take up to 12 months, meaning the building could be in use again by late 2023 or early 2024.

Harworth Group has sold two residential land parcels at its Waverley and Thoresby Vale developments to Barratt and David Wilson Homes, for a total consideration of £39 million. At Waverley in South Yorkshire, Harworth has competed a £29 million land sale which will see the delivery of approximately 450 homes, of which over 30% will be affordable. This represents Harworth’s largest-ever serviced residential land sale by number of plots. The new homes will represent Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ fifth phase at the site and will be situated adjacent to both Highwall Park and the Waverley Lake, benefitting from unique water frontage in an area of the development known as Waverley Waterfront. Construction will follow a bespoke design code, devised in partnership between Harworth and Barratt and David Wilson Homes, that complements the existing Waverley development while maximising the amenity value of the area’s waterfront location. The development will include a pedestrianised promenade, further enhancing the site’s placemaking and connectivity. Meanwhile at Thoresby Vale in Nottinghamshire, Harworth has exchanged on the sale of serviced land capable of delivering 174 homes, for £10 million. Andrew Blackshaw, chief operating officer, Harworth Group plc, said: “Barratt and David Wilson Homes is a trusted and valued partner to Harworth, and we are pleased to be developing our relationship with these two significant land sales. Harworth is particularly well-placed in volatile markets as our serviced land provides housebuilders with a product which is de-risked and ready to build on from day one. “The acceleration of both our Waverley and Thoresby Vale sites will see Harworth stepping through its strategy to take advantage of the placemaking and levelling up that these schemes ultimately bring to these communities. In addition, these sales will enhance the maturation of these socially diverse neighbourhoods when delivered alongside our recently launched single family Build to Rent product, Project Spur.”

Hull City Council’s new Liberal leadership has pulled the plug on plans to build a cruise terminal near The Deep, claiming the proposed scheme was ‘fundamentally unworkable’. Having listened to residents in the area and the official objections of The Deep, Hull’s Lib Dems say they’re protecting The Deep by confirming this site will not be used. This is one of the new administration’s first major moves, said to confirm its intention to listen to people across the city and put local people at the heart of Council decision-making. Claiming Labour’s Cruise Terminal plans were fundamentally unworkable, Council leader Mike Ross has asked the Council to explore alternative locations where a Cruise Terminal could be feasible, with publication of a review expected shortly.