Seamless refurbishment of iconic Leeds building which was birthplace of clothing giant

Wellington Park House in the city centre was originally built in 1881 for Hepworth's which employed 500 people at the factory base on the corner of Wellington Street and Thirsk Row.

In the 1880s they innovated further establishing shops to sell their suits direct to the public and by 1890 they employed 2,000 staff who sold their stock through 107 shops.

The building was badly damaged by the Great Fire of Leeds in July 1906 and was completely rebuilt and continued to be occupied by Hepworths until the 1920s.

When the tailoring industry began to lose customers to foreign imports the company began to focus on other retail outlets, launching 78 of their stores as 'Next' in 1982.

The building was bought by property developers Boultbee Brooks in 2018 and has since been transformed into office space thanks to a £5 million refurbishment.

Work is set to be completed on the building, which has now been renamed Tailors Corner, in July.

Eamon Fox, partner with global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, who are marketing Tailors Corner, said: “Set over seven floors and offering over 25,000 sq ft

of design-led Grade A workspace with suites from 1,500 sq ft, we have rebuilt the past and reinvented it for today.

“This iconic building is steeped in history - formerly a fabric and garment warehouse with a state-of-the-art retail space at street level, it’s always been a site for trailblazers and forward-

thinkers.

“Fast forward to 2021 and we have invigorated this building with life, energy and verve. It’s called Tailors Corner in honour of its history – making its mark once more. We’ve designed

Tailors Corner around real people; the way people work, and what they do in between. We are offering a host of flexible office options, from fitted/turnkey to unfitted.

“Already there is a tremendous interest in this building, with our first tenants in legals. Potential occupiers range from professional firms to creative and media companies and

ambitious entrepreneurs. With the end of lockdown in sight, the doors of Tailors Corner are well and truly open.

“A green agenda is paramount here. We’ve done away with basement parking for the privileged few, in favour of installing bike storage and shower facilities for everyone. And

there’s an incredible communal roof terrace, with feature plating, for all the tenants.

“Set in the hubbub of the city just moments from Leeds station and the new Channel 4 HQ, and with the Cycle Superhighway literally on the doorstep, Tailors Corner is designed as an inspiring modern space where businesses thrive within a community of like-minded people,”

The comprehensive refurbishment includes a new communal roof terrace with feature planting, decking and views of the Leeds skyline; architecturally sympathetic feature ground floor entrances; a communal roof terrace, showers and changing rooms as well as 30 cycle racks.

Mr Fox added: “The newest generation of workers expect their office to be an inspiring and enjoyable place to work. Historically the preserve of technology and media firms, the new ideal office combines collaborative spaces with individual work areas, as well as providing amenities that encourage people to think of work as an extension of home.”

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