�750 Million of key Leeds development / Investment unveiled at MIPIM 2016

Director, Jon Kenny, said: �Our proposals to significantly expand Leeds City Centre were well received at MIPIM, the world�s largest property conference. We aim to deliver something fantastic for the local community, putting Leeds City Station as the heart of the city rather than a southern boundary.

�The station�s new southern entrance opens out into South Bank, making it well-placed to deliver a vibrant mix of new homes, bars, restaurants, leisure, innovative public spaces and headquarter offices securing thousands of new jobs for local people, all within iconic new buildings befitting of a new city quarter.

�Most importantly, at MIPIM we were able to do this side-by-side with our architect who has previously secured the award for the world�s best tall building, here in Leeds.�

Architect, Alex Whitbread from Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCB), won the award for the �World�s Best Tall Building� for the Leeds Beckett University�s Broadcasting Place in 2010, seeing off competition from some of the world�s tallest and most prestigious buildings to secure the coveted award in 2010.

He said: �Securing such an internationally recognised accolade for Broadcasting Place was monumental, not only because we overcame phenomenal competition, but because the building sits adjacent to two small-scale listed buildings within a conservation area. As such, our sensitive design of this important landmark for Leeds was vital.

�In terms of the South Bank, this development will be of the highest quality; helping to secure similar awards. It is unique, and provides the opportunity to redefine Leeds for the next century; focusing on the station and river as the new heart of the city.

�The proposals will act as a catalyst to drive further investment into the area, supporting Burberry�s arrival and attracting other nationally and internationally recognised brands into innovative, landmark business spaces.

�This area is a place of possibilities; we can create new ways of living and working. It�s a place to discover new opportunities, unrivalled city centre offices, superior contemporary homes, innovative outdoor spaces, job and training opportunities, vibrant culture and rich heritage. Ambitious architecture will seek to set a new benchmark for Leeds and other cities across the globe as we have done before with Broadcasting Place.

�This is not just about building on a historic legacy, it�s about creating a new one and MIPIM offered the perfect platform to unveil that ambition.�

CEG�s property agents Fox Lloyd Jones also joined the MIPIM delegation. Paul Fox, who recently secured the pioneering pre-let deal with Zenith for its occupation of over 45,000 sq ft in the first flagship headquarters at Kirkstall Forge, is also promoting the South Bank Leeds sites to occupiers and investors.

Paul said: �At MIPIM, these sites were pitched against every key city in the world, fighting head-on for the limited pot of global capital and investment. Leeds has to pitch its strengths and USP�s against London, Paris, and Dubai as well as competing with Manchester and Birmingham.

�Our experience at Kirkstall has underlined that occupiers and investors are seeking out schemes that offer world class accommodation options supported by on site high quality infrastructure and communications.

�Kirkstall Forge and our evolving South Bank scheme tick all those boxes being adjacent to key rail and road infrastructure and both offering unrivalled and unique environments for headquarter office users. The recent commitments of Burberry, HS2 and now HS3 will further change the face of South Bank, Leeds and creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity not only for the people who live and work in this area but also helping to put Leeds as a city on the map as a global destination.�

Jon Kenny concluded: �MIPIM highlights how competitive global capital is and why it is so important to be properly represented on the world stage.�