Iconic Leeds building is in the frame again

The Leeds office of global property consultancy Knight Frank has played a pivotal role in a letting in one of the city’s most iconic buildings, which has just been comprehensively refurbished and restored to its former glory.

Tasneem Patel, has been promoted to associate in the commercial property team. Tasneem acts for high-net-worth individuals, corporations and SMEs and advises on acquisitions and disposals, real estate finance (including Islamic finance) and commercial landlord and tenant matters. She also provides specialist property support on education land transactions for schools and academies and corporat e transactions.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Tasneem over the last five years and see her develop into a great commercial property solicitor and a highly valued colleague in the team. Tasneem’s hard work and ‘can do’ attitude has been rewarded with well-deserved recognition and promotion to Associate . I fully expect her to continue to progress within the team and the firm generally over the coming years,” said Bashara t Ali, partner.

Seema Gabbi, has been promoted to associate in the residential property team, offering expertise and guidance throughout the house buying and selling processes.

“These seven promotions demonstrate the outstanding achievements of those individuals to client service, development of their practise areas and growth of the firm and its people. They reflect our commitment to growing team members and encouraging career progression. Well done to all,” concluded Graham Sweeney, managing partner.

Since the new promotion framework was introduced in the summer of 2020, 11 employees have been promoted through the scheme.

This reflects the value the firm places on developing colleagues and in particular, its commitment to providing opportunity for everyone to achieve a rewarding career.

In conjunction with practical completion, a leading tech company has taken 7,887 sq ft (37 per cent of the building) of quality office space across two floors at One Sovereign Quay on Leeds Bridge.

This historic building, which has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment and is now available for immediate occupation, played a starring role in one of the very oldest pieces of fil m in the world.

It was the subject of French inventor Louis Le Prince’s pioneering film of industrial Leeds in 1888.

The grainy black-and-while film, showing people and carriages crossing Leeds Bridge, has achieved legendary status as the first moving picture sequence using a single lens camera and a strip of paper.

A rent of £32 per sq ft has been achieved on a 10-year lease with a five-year break.

Victoria Harris, office agency specialist with Knight Frank, who are marketing the building on behalf of Charles Street Buildings Group, explained: “This is a building which is steeped in history and is also so full of promise and potential for the future. What a heady mixture.

“Formerly known as Windsor House, this sleeping giant has undergone a multi-million pound makeover, including the addition of south-facing terraces and full-height glazing on the ground, fourth and fifth floors, which provides over 21,000 sq ft of stunning

Grade A office space. It offers the ultimate combination of character, prominence, positioning, design and stunning views across the city.

“The letting to this flourish tech company is a ringing endorsement of the quality of the refurbishment and the stunning new office space at One Sovereign Quay. There are open plan suites remaining from 4,124 sq ft which are available for immediate occupation and are already to subject of strong interest.”

Victoria commented: “By appearing in one of the oldest surviving pieces of film in existence, One Sovereign Quay has truly cemented itself in history. Louis Le Prince filmed Leeds Bridge and the surrounding buildings during the heady late-Victorian years of industrial growth and commerce and it’s only right that the building is now re-imagined to reflect Leeds’s continuing regeneration and its need to evolve for contemporary life and work.”

Situated on the north bank of the River Aire within the heart of the city, One Sovereign Quay is ideally positioned with views across the river, the city and beyond. With both the financial and shopping districts only a short walk away and with cafes, restaurants and bars in all directions, it is close to all the best that Leeds has to offer.

Ms Harris concluded: “These brandnew Grade A offices provide all that is needed for a modern innercity working environment, with a major emphasis on staff health and wellbeing, sustainability and open plan design. Bespoke facilities include glass walls, two private roof terraces, secure underground secure parking, storage for bikes, and access to stateof-the art showers and changi ng facilities.”

As for the pioneering filmmaker Louis Le Prince, he disappeared without trace just two years after making his film about Leeds Bridge.