Escher House Cardigan Road: Plans submitted to turn Gothic-style Leeds office building into flats

Escher House, a red-brick Gothic-style property at 116 Cardigan Road, sits within the Headingley Conservation Area and has served as office space for more than 50 years.

A prior approval application, lodged with Leeds City Council on June 12 by Mr M Davies of planning consultancy Zerum, outlines proposals to transform the building into residential use.

If approved, the scheme would create ten one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments across the entire three-storey building.

In a supporting letter, the applicant said the change would “replace all pedestrian, cycle and vehicular movements associated with the site’s former use as an office”.

It adds: “The site is situated just a 3-minute walk from Burley Park railway station... Victoria Road bus stop is located directly outside the site.”

“The apartments will have ample parking provision... Due to the sustainable nature of the location residents will have access to both the local bus and rail network.”

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Zerum also says the move would support the long-term character of the area: “The proposal supports the long-term sustainability of the Conservation Area by returning a former residential villa back into residential use.”

A decision on the plans is expected by early August, with any comments on the proposal to be submitted by Friday, July 11, 2025.