High-tech vision revealed for state-of-the-art building in Leeds city centre

The 12-storey City House building, which towers above Leeds City Station, will have 120,000sq ft of space including offices, a business lounge and a roof garden offering views over the city centre.

It comes after a £20m investment in the train station’s South Entrance and follows on from plans to pedestrianise nearby City Square, making it a traffic-free zone by 2021.

Developer Bruntwood is behind the ambitious plans for City House, which was previously used by British Railways.

Craig Burrow, director at Bruntwood in Leeds, said: “City House has been designed with contemporary and progressive business in mind.

“Workplace culture is changing – people are tied to their desks less and are choosing to work flexibly, in digitally-enhanced surroundings.

“In addition, workplace wellbeing is becoming more important for companies to attract and retain employees.

“City House embraces the ever-changing nature of business connectivity and the bespoke choice of workspace creates a vibrant and sustainable workplace.”

The original British Railways building was built in 1962 by architect John Poulson, who also designed the Leeds International Swimming Pool.

The building was later criticised by poet John Betjeman, who said that it ‘blocked out all light’ to neighbouring City Square.

Work is already under way on transforming City House, which has been empty for several years.

The work is due to be completed by May 2017.