Channel 4, Re-Location & Expansion
Channel 4’s decision to choose Leeds as its new national headquarters is great for this already vibrant city which is expected to move up to 800 staff and bring more than £1 billion to the region over the next decade. Channel 4 have already had some presence within the north, notably Countdown, Educating Yorkshire (in nearby Dewsbury) and Red Riding. However the independent production sector is strong and fast growing across the region – Emmerdale on ITV set up here in 1972. Channel 4 moving to this cultural city in the North will enrich people’s lives as well as bringing huge benefits to the region. As talent is moving away from London, Channel 4’s decision demonstrates the immense pulling power of the city.
The Government is “north-shoring” too with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) bringing over 1000 employees, and housing 6,000 staff in Wellington Place, the new urban quarter of Leeds that is also home to Investec Wealth & Investment and international accountants Mazars will bring 130 staff.
Also Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), after having already benefitted from massive investment recently, have further plans officially submitted to include a £12 million extension to its terminal building to accommodate anticipated growth in passenger numbers. LBA had around four million passengers in 2017, but has the ambition to grow to five million passengers by 2023 and seven million by 2030.
- Shopping in the centre of Leeds is off the scale – shopping malls and High Street stores are filled with some of the best retailers all within metres of each other, Leeds houses some of the UK’s best brands, good shopping arcades, Harvey Nicholls and more recently the Trinity Leeds shopping centre and Victoria Gate.
- Restaurants are amazing, with new openings from London brands such as the Ivy and Gino D’Acampo but complemented by great independent restaurants such as San Carlo and Tattu.
- Cultural capital with names such as Alan Bennett and the much celebrated Damien Hirst with top class museums and galleries including Leeds City Museum, Royal Armouries and the Thackeray Museum.
- Economy growing faster than that of most other cities, a flourishing business hub and a technology start-up scene, considered the new Northern Powerhouse.
- Transport network is strong and improving as stated above with its busy centrally located train station providing links around the country and beyond, together with the national motorway network (A1, M1, M62) almost on the doorstep.
Some of those re-locating to Leeds may not yet be on the property ladder – but this will provide them with a chance, and those who do decide to sell up and move from the south will soon discover that they get an awful lot more for their money with the average prices according to the Land registry average at £183,651 in Leeds compared to over £480k in London. All this has to be great news for the Leeds housing market which after great research inspired David Phillip Estate Agents to open up its first office, based in Bramhope only 7 miles north of the city centre.
