Developer acquires landmark Leeds building

A landmark Leeds building that was formerly the regional headquarters of the Bank of England has been acquired by Yorkshire property company Rushbond.Bank House, on the corner of King Street and Park Place, was purpose built for the Bank of England between 1969-1971 by Building Design Partnership, one of the largest practices operating in the 1960s.The 90,000 sq ft building features a European Brutalist-style design, clad in Cornish granite, and is grade II-listed.Rushbond is planning to substantially restore the iconic exterior, while redeveloping and upgrading the interior to create a new office scheme.The company believes the redevelopment will attract inward investment, as well as regional tenants seeking office space in a super prime location. Works are expected to commence in 2026.Richard Baker, from Rushbond, said: “Bank House has an incredible history and we welcome the opportunity to secure the future of this landmark building. There is a huge demand for premium office space in the city, and at the top of tenants’ requirements are meeting their sustainability targets.”At Rushbond we believe it is clearly more sustainable to breathe new life into an existing building. By doing so we’re not only protecting some of the city’s most important assets, but we’re also offering future tenants the unique opportunity to be located in an energy efficient, contemporary space filled with character and integrity. We look forward to sharing more plans for the building in the future.”Bank House adds to Rushbond’s growing commercial portfolio in Leeds city centre. The developer has completed the restoration of the iconic Majestic Leeds, the former Odeon cinema which is now the northern headquarters for Channel 4; the grade I-listed Leeds Corn Exchange, a centre for independent shops and cafes and First White Cloth Hall; a grade II-listed building located on Kirkgate, Leeds’s oldest street, which has been transformed into a contemporary new workspace.Jonathan Maud, chairman at Rushbond, added: “Leeds is an incredible city within a vibrant Yorkshire and we are excited to continue to invest within its built environment and look forward to providing a very significant, substantial and newly envisioned workplace from 2026.”Planning permission for the refurbishment of Bank House was previously granted last year.