Manner has marked a key construction milestone, having officially topped out at its first PBSA development in Leeds city centre, The Store House.
The topping out ceremony was attended by key city stakeholders representing the Leeds City Council, Leeds BID and Leeds Civic Trust, as well as project team members and associated partners.
Attendees were welcomed on-site and given an opportunity to hear from James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council and Ian Williams-Slaven, Head of Development at Manner, before embarking on a private tour of the development.
Following its unanimous approval by Leeds City Council’s planning committee, The Store House purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and retail scheme replaces the former House of Fraser store.
The project has been designed in collaboration between developers Manner, architects Corstorphine & Wright, interior designers Project Studio, and contractor partners Erith and HG Construction.
“Manner is incredibly proud to have reached this key milestone in our construction programme. Centred around the lifestyle of today’s modern student, whilst also bringing significant benefits to the wider community, The Store House will deliver positive long-term impact to the future of Leeds city centre. We look forward to welcoming residents soon and providing them with a first-class living experience during their studies in this fantastic city.”
Richard James, MD, Manner
Offering 369 PBSA spaces and over 19,000 sq ft of amenity spaces, The Store House will provide residents with different environments to relax, socialise and work. This includes co-working spaces, fitness and wellness suites, dining and recreational areas, a private cinema and a roof terrace with views across the city. It will also provide over 24,000 sq ft of retail space on the steps of Briggate.
The property is designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent and is closely aligned to both Leeds City Council’s and the government’s Net Zero Carbon targets, contributing towards a more sustainable and rejuvenated urban centre.
The Store House development will be available for occupancy from the 2025/26 academic year onwards.
“We are delighted to celebrate this significant milestone in the Leeds Store House Project. We are proud to contribute to this transformative development, bringing our expertise in demolition and construction solutions to ensure the project’s success.
“The dedicated team has worked tirelessly to overcome challenges and deliver exceptional results, paving the way for a sustainable and vibrant future for the Leeds community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have and are honoured to have played a part in its realisation.”
Steven May, Group CEO, Erith
In July, Manner was gathering support for its ‘Save The Hotspur Press’ campaign. Building was paused on the development due to an application that an anonymous individual submitted, requesting the building to be listed, despite a similar request being refused by Historic England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in 2019.
