Bruntwood SciTech launches new Leeds innovation hub

Bruntwood SciTech has launched a new innovation hub in Leeds city centre following a £20m redevelopment project.

Already 75 per cent pre-let, West Village now offers 230,000 sq ft of workspace designed to help innovation thrive and stimulate collaborations between like-minded businesses

The hub offers a mix of coworking, serviced and leased spaces with varying lease lengths.

West Village is home to the likes of insurtech business QBE – which has located its robotics centre and technological development hub at West Village, Australian fintech company, PEXA, and coding bootcamp provider Northcoders.

The launch of West Village marks the culmination of a significant development project by Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund – to reimagine the former site of West One and Castle House.

Improvements have been made to the building to reduce CO2 emissions, improve air quality, reuse rainwater, reduce noise and create new habitats for local birds and wildlife. As part of the redevelopment, the building has been fitted with high efficiency air source heat pumps, sensor technology to promote the use of natural ventilation, new windows and additional wall insulation.

West Village also features a new wellness facility – RESET Leeds, operated by premium training brand FORM.

Bruntwood SciTech has also announced the completion of the refurbishment of nearby workspace 14 King Street, part of the company’s city centre innovation cluster.

Andrew Cooke, regional director – Leeds for Bruntwood SciTech, said: “West Village is the culmination of a hugely ambitious and important redevelopment project for the city. Leeds has built a reputation as a leading technology ecosystem and for good reason, with hundreds of innovative businesses now calling the city home.

“So it’s crucial that we continue to provide forward-thinking workspaces to ensure that these businesses are set up for success here. West Village does just that and more, offering spaces that encourage collaboration, inspirational thinking, and a positive work-life balance.

“Having already built a successful ecosystem of tech-led businesses at nearby Platform, we are excited for West Village and 14 King Street to join and build this community, ultimately adding to Leeds’ burgeoning technology status.”

At West Village, Bruntwood SciTech partnered with Robertsons, Cubic Works, 3D Reid, I Want Plants and DWLLP while Ultimate Group carried out the works at 14 King Street. CBRE and Knight Frank support West Village while Cushman & Wakefield and Fox Lloyd Jones support 14 King Street.