MEPC celebrates major Government Hub milestone in ceremony at Wellington Place
On behalf of Legal & General, Developer and Asset Manager, MEPC celebrated the key handover of 7 and 8 Wellington Place to HM Revenue & Customs and NHS Digital.
Attended by representatives of HMRC, NHS Digital, Hermes Investment Management, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), MEPC and Wates Construction, the celebration not only marks the completion of the building but also the fantastic community work that has been undertaken during construction.
Having already secured 13 sites for its regional centre locations, the 378,000 sq. ft. building will become the latest regional Government Hub for HMRC and NHS Digital. 7 and 8 Wellington Place will provide civil servants with a high-quality working environment including spaces and facilities for social interaction, reflection and wellbeing rooms, cycle storage and showers.
The milestone marks the start of the internal fit-out process for 7 and 8 Wellington Place, which will be ready to welcome 6,000 public servants to the development, the first of which are set to move in later this year.
Since the start of the build, 7 and 8 Wellington Place has created 1,320 construction jobs, including supporting an initiative that will help the homeless through Wates’ partnership and Engage Leeds. Upon occupation, and the completion of 4 Wellington Place, the Wellington Place development will be the location for one in ten jobs in central Leeds.
Paul Pavia, Head of Development at MEPC, said: “The key handover ceremony is a significant milestone and we have worked hard alongside the team at Wates Construction, to deliver a building of this quality and scale, on time and on budget. These long-term investments at Wellington Place have a considerable impact on the region and will provide HMRC with a modern and collaborative workspace to use as their new regional centre.”
Chris Taylor, Head of Private Markets at Hermes Investment Management, said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to have reached this point in the development of Wellington Place with the completion of Buildings 7 and 8. MEPC, as manager and developer, has ensured the scheme has been driven forward successfully, which is reflected in the commitment we have had from our occupiers, including HMRC. This marks a significant moment in the delivery of Wellington Place and is a culmination of our ambition to provide high-quality commercial office space to major employers within Leeds city centre.
“The scheme reflects our holistic approach in action, to deliver excellent long-term investment performance and stewardship through the development of schemes that provide a greater sense of social sustainability and wellbeing for those who live, work and socialise there. The ongoing support of Leeds City Council has been invaluable in delivering these buildings, and we look forward to working with our customers to deliver ongoing value for their employees, the city and the surrounding region.”
Richard West, Director of Estates at HMRC, said: “Receiving this key is a significant milestone for us as we now move into the final phase in the development of this Government Hub. HMRC has a large and long-established presence in Yorkshire and its new Regional Centre in Leeds demonstrates a commitment to the region and its economy. This hub will not only bring together HMRC colleagues from across the region into one central location but also colleagues from a number of other government agencies and public bodies. Once complete, this building will be a great place to work for our colleagues, providing the modern, collaborative and world-class workspaces they deserve.”
Marc Silverside, Associate Director of Communications at NHS Digital said: “Receiving this key is an important moment for NHS Digital as we look forward to co-locating our Leeds based staff into one modern, purpose-built site. The new Hub will revolutionise the way that we work and secures our future in a prime location in Leeds city centre. Our location is important to us to help attract the very best digital and technology talent across the entire region. The building has been designed to include a range of environmentally friendly features. These will allow us to make a step-change in our goal to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and allow us to continue to develop and improve our sustainability over time. Working in the Hub will also enable us to build closer relationships with our colleagues in other government departments, enabling us to learn from each other’s experience and expertise.”
Meanwhile, work continues across the development, with the latest building 4 Wellington Place due for completion in late 2020 and the construction of building 11 and 12 set to begin soon. Buildings 11 and 12 are the latest phase of the masterplan and will offer 226,046 sq. ft. of Grade A BREAAM excellent office accommodation as the ninth and tenth buildings on the development.
Hermes Investment Management recently announced its acquisition of MEPC Limited which will enhance Hermes Real Estate’s proposition by adding specialist asset and development management expertise to its existing capabilities.
