Demolition order on new Leeds office block
A developer has been ordered to partially demolish a new office block in Leeds after a neighbour complained that it deprived his own property of light.
Developers Highcross added two additional floors to the existing five storey Toronto Square office, adding over 7,000 sq ft of floor space. The £10m extension was completed in 2009 and was leased to business consultants Zolfo Cooper on a 10-year lease.
But next-door neighbour Marcus Heaney filed for an injunction against Highcross, arguing that the extra floors deprived his own property of a right to light. Heaney, who runs an event management business, owns the former Yorkshire Penny Bank building in Infirmary Street.
The case was initially thrown out on the basis that Heaney did not complain about the development during the construction phase. However, courts subsequently granted him an injunction against Highcross, requiring the developer to pull down part of the extension. Chris Mills, commercial development director at Newbury-based Highcross, said the property fund manager and developer was appealing against the ruling after taking professional advice.
The Toronto Square office development is located in the commercial district of Leeds city centre and offers Grade A floor space of 74,145 sq ft with a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating. In January 2010 recruitment consultants Reed signed a 10-year lease for 6,695 sq ft of ground floor space at rental prices of £24/sq ft.
This entry was posted in West Yorkshire and tagged Planning, Rental Prices. Bookmark the permalink.