£13m office centre revamp backed

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 01-12-2011

Thousands of square feet of office space will be updated as part of a £13 million scheme to transform a Leeds shopping centre.

Leeds council has backed plans to revamp the Merrion Centre. Built in the 1960s, the centre contains 800,000 square feet of office, retail, leisure and car parking space.

As well as the office refurbishment work, new stores and eateries will be created and a gym constructed on Wade Lane/Merrion Way. The multi-storey car park with space for 1,000 cars will also be updated.

A spokeswoman said work should start on the project early next year, and it is hoped up to 200 jobs will be created.

She said the redevelopment is "in a fantastic location in a busy part of Leeds city centre", which is popular with shoppers, students and office workers. "Together with the arena development, we are going to transform this part of the city, injecting new vibrancy and vitality into the area," she said.

It is hoped the work will be finished by March 2013.

Copyright Press Association 2011