Bowmer + Kirkland picked for £140m Leeds resi

The contractor has been appointed to deliver the 500-home build to rent scheme at Whitehall Riverside, developed by Glenbrook and funded by Legal & General.

The deal to back the project, completed in March, is Leeds’ largest build-to-rent funding deal and Glenbrook and L&G’s first venture together.

Over the last decade, Glenbrook has established itself as one of the UK’s most active BTR developers, delivering more than 1,500 homes to date.

Whitehall Riverside represents the company’s first residential scheme in Leeds with a further 618-home development to come forward at Kirkstall Road later this year.

In February this year, B+K reached practical completion with High Definition, a 280-apartment build for sale scheme at MediaCityUK in Salford, delivered for Glenbrook on behalf of Latimer, Clarion Housing Group’s development arm.

As with Whitehall Riverside, the architect was Sheppard Robson. The professional team in Leeds also includes Curtins, Abacus, Re-form and Crookes Walker Consulting.

Danny Roberts, development director at Glenbrook, said: “With planning permission secured and the funding agreement with L&G now in place, we’ve immediately moved forward with the delivery of Whitehall Riverside and are working towards a completion date of April 2026.

“Given the scheme’s extensive sustainable credentials, it was vital that we had a best-in-class contractor in place with similar values.  We have a well-established relationship with Bowmer + Kirkland and this appointment provides certainty to the market that we will be delivering a high-quality product and provide an even broader range of choice for people in the city.”

Paul Sykes, regional director at B+K, said: “After the undoubted success of High Definition at MediaCity, we are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with Glenbrook to deliver an outstanding development that aligns with both Bowmer and Kirkland’s and Glenbrook’s values, and commitment to provide much more than just a building.

“Sustainability, social value, and placemaking are at the heart of what we collaboratively aim to achieve, leading the industry in delivering quality and attractive places that people will be proud to call home.”

Also at Whitehall Riverside, Town Centre Securities secured consent earlier this month for offices, a hotel and car park project.