PEXA deal heads flurry of Leeds lettings

The Australian tech provider has taken 8,100 sq ft at Bruntwood’s West Village, as firms including Eddisons and Michael Page made moves elsewhere in the city.

Following its 2022 acquisition of Optima Legal, PEXA has become a significant employer in Yorkshire, with 65% of PEXA’s 380 UK employees based in Leeds and around the region.

The firm, described as being behind the world’s first digital property exchange process, has now made West Village – part of Bruntwood Works’ £200m Pioneer modernisation programme – its UK headquarters.

PEXA, which was advised by CBRE, said it will collaborate with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority as it prepares for the site opening in autumn this year.

The occupier’s chief executive Glenn King said: “We are delighted to announce West Village as our new UK headquarters. Leeds is a key strategic location for PEXA, and its spirit of innovation and collaboration matches that of our business.”

Elsewhere, property group Eddisons and insolvency practitioner Begbies Traynor have relocated their Leeds offices to Wellington Place. The two firms, part of Begbies Traynor Group, have taken the 7,100 sq ft second floor of 10 Wellington Place, which will be home to Eddisons’ head office and Begbies’ Leeds base.

Eddisons managing partner Anthony Spencer said the move “represents our joint commitment to Yorkshire, where Eddisons was first founded in 1851, and an investment in our people, as well as strengthening the relationship between the two firms”.

He added: “It’s a reflection of our change in priorities since Covid, and an emphasis on the wellbeing of our team, that we are actually taking less overall space than we had previously but it is more people-focused.”

The Eddisons deal followed local success story ghd committing to 10,345 sq ft at neighbouring 11 Wellington Place earlier this month.

At Fiera Real Estate UK and Opus North’s 12 King Street, two floors have gone to three occupiers. Recruiter Michael Page has taken the whole 7,702 sq ft fifth floor, with property consultancy Arcadis (3,497 sq ft) and Reward Finance Group ((3,947 sq ft) splitting the first floor.

The building comprises 54,000 sq ft and is also home to Endless and recent arrival Rothschild. An ESG-led £11m overhaul of the building was completed in June 2022, including a new façade, the complete replacement of the fifth and sixth floors, and a sky lounge.

Ryan Unsworth, joint managing director at Opus North, said: “We are thrilled to secure three more major occupants who are relocating their main offices in Leeds to 12 King Street.

“It’s a real testament to what is happening in the office market – occupiers are seeking the very best, most-inspiring, workspaces for their teams and clients, as well as demanding buildings with strong sustainability and environmental credentials.”