Carter Towler has negotiated a 10 year lease deal on behalf of Reward Finance Group. Following 12 years of rapid continuous growth across the UK, the alternative finance provider has moved into larger offices at 12 King Street, Leeds.

Carter Towler director Richard Fraser said: “This has been a great deal to be involved with. It’s exciting to be able to assist a progressive Leeds-based company by facilitating its continued growth in this way.

“This is one of the highest quality office buildings in Leeds city centre with fantastic onsite amenities. I am sure that both Reward and its clients will benefit from all this exceptional property has to offer.”

Reward has taken 3,934 sq ft on the first floor of 12 King Street. The entire building has been extensively refurbished over the past 18 months with other new occupiers including Rothschild & Co and Endless.

Tom Flannery, non-executive chairman of Reward Investments Ltd, added: “We are extremely pleased to have secured these great new offices, they are so much more than a traditional office space.

“The developers, Opus North and Fiera Real Estate UK, had a vision to create something very different in Leeds and they have certainly achieved it. They have delivered a transformational working environment that meets the needs of a modern business like ours.

“We have much more flexible work and collaboration spaces and more wellbeing and networking facilities for our employees and clients to enjoy.”

Ryan Unsworth, Joint Managing Director of Opus North, said: “We are delighted to welcome Reward to 12 King Street. They are exactly the kind of innovative, achieving business we had in mind when we set about remodelling the property. We wish them all the very best with their continued growth.”

Barnett Waddingham, a professional services consultancy focussing on risk, pensions, investment and insurance, is taking 14,000 sq ft of prime office space at developer MRP’s City Square House in Leeds on a 15-year lease. This is the one of the most significant pre-let office deals in the city during the past 12 months. It was brokered by the Leeds office of global property consultancy Knight Frank. Barnett Waddingham, who are relocating from within Leeds, are paying £37 per sq ft with a 10-year break on the 15-year lease. City Square House is a 140,000 sq ft speculative development and the only remaining undeveloped property fronting City Square. The workspace will comprise Grade A office accommodation over 12-storeys including low carbon credentials, terraces on the 4th, 5th and 6th levels and extensive cycling, electric vehicle and e-bike charging point facilities. Practical completion of this building, built by Design & Build contractors McAleer & Rushe, is scheduled for early next year. Barnett Waddingham will be joining global law firm DLA and Markel, an SME-focused expert in providing integrated insurance, tax and legal services, in the building. Together, these two companies have taken a combined total of 103,000 sq ft. Angus Monteith, development director at MRP, said: “We are delighted to welcome a company with such an excellent reputation as Barnett Waddingham to City Square House. This latest signing means the development is now 85% pre-let with a final 22,000 sq ft available. “Securing a 15-year pre-let deal is a very significant and positive statement of intent in the long-term future prosperity of office space in Leeds and, indeed, in urban centres throughout the UK. As we near completion of construction in early 2024, we expect this strong demand for the best workspace will continue.” Eamon Fox, partner and head of office agency at global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, advised the landlord. “The Barnett Waddingham deal completes a magnificent hat-trick of high calibre companies moving into City Square House. City Square House is the iconic new office development that the Leeds market has been waiting for. “It is in a prime position, just off City Square and next to Leeds Station, and the remaining available space of 22,000 sq ft will help to address the pressing need for quality Grade A office space in the city centre. “This is a significant deal for the city of Leeds, a vote of confidence in the city and its economy. Amidst this challenging economic climate, this is just the boost the whole region needed and a genuine cause to be optimistic about the commercial property sector in Yorkshire. “The regeneration of the city centre of Leeds is now paying dividends for the city’s economy and reputation and City Square House, so brilliantly developed speculatively by MRP, is a shining example of what can be achieved with vision and courage.” Earlier this year, Tom Riordan, Leeds City Council’s Chief Executive, said: “It’s brilliant to see the progress being made on City Square House which is one of the most prominent locations in Leeds city centre. Further investment into commercial space, record cranes on our skyline and the growing appeal of Leeds to global businesses, shows how our great city is really continuing to thrive economically.”

Caddick Construction has handed over St. Modwen Logistics’ newest sustainable warehouse, becoming the latest in a line of industrial buildings for the construction firm. The £8m construction contract saw the delivery of a steel portal framed warehouse, featuring 10 dock levellers with an eaves height of 12.5 metres, making it the largest unit at St Modwen Park, Lincoln. Totalling 111,000 sq ft, Lincoln 111 is the fourth phase at St. Modwen Park in Lincoln. Rated BREEAM Excellent, this scheme secured an EPC A+ rating, helping its new occupiers to save on utility costs and reach their own Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) targets. Paul Dodsworth, Caddick Construction Group Managing Director, said: “St. Modwen Park further demonstrates our skill set in the industrial market and has been built on time and on budget for our valued development partner, St. Modwen Logistics. “This flagship scheme has taken our industrial projects this year alone up to 11, totalling £165 million and amounting to 1,988,234 sq ft. It’s a huge achievement for the business and I look forward to extending this pipeline further as we take on exciting new projects.” Ian Martin, senior construction manager at St. Modwen Logistics, said: “We are always striving to develop industry-leading warehouses in fantastic locations for our customers and by enlisting Caddick Construction’s expertise we have been able to achieve this once again at Lincoln 111. Caddick’s experience in the industry has led to our development being delivered on time and to the highest level of construction standards.”

York Handmade Brick Company has secured one of the most significant contracts in its 35-year history. The company, based at Alne, near Easingwold, is supplying 385,000 specially manufactured bricks for 3 Circle Square in the heart of Manchester’s innovation district. The contract is worth £580,000 and is a resounding endorsement of York Handmade’s decision to invest £1.5m in brand-new machinery earlier this year. 3 Circle Square, which is being master-minded by Manchester-based developer Bruntwood, will be a stand-alone brick-built block, close to Oxford Road. Designed by Bridge Architects of Manchester, it will offer flexible office space, helping creative, digital and technology businesses to start up and flourish. It will also feature a communal roof terrace. Work started on site last year and will be completed by February 2025. David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade, said: “This is a massive project for us, especially in the context of these challenging economic times. It has been a tremendous boost for our factory and a great honour to contribute to a pioneering and innovative development which is redefining Manchester’s cityscape for the 21st century. “This has been a crucial year for us at York Handmade. We have invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which has transformed how we make our bricks. Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which has speeded up production, facilitated two brand-new products and increased efficiency. “This has proved to be a transformational move, by far the biggest and most significant in our history. Our revolutionary new manufacturing line combines three different types of brick – the Handmade Style, as currently produced, together with Water Struck and Pressed Bricks. “Crucially, the bricks we have supplied are for 3 Circle Square are Waterstruck Thirkleby Blend, part of our Viking range and a stunning example of what we are able to manufacture with our brand-new plant. “Most of the Water Struck Bricks, which are currently very popular in London, are imported, so we are now fulfilling an important demand and supporting the sustainability agenda. We have an impressive track record in London, with iconic projects across the capital, and we can now build on this. “More generally, this investment will enable us to manufacture high-quality, UK-made bricks for many years to come and it reflects our commitment to the brick industry and the astounding architectural projects using bricks.”