Watkin Jones has been given the go-head from Leeds City Council to convert and re-purpose an old office building into 230 co-living homes.

The developer and manager of residential sites for rent says the transformation of Headrow House is due to be completed in 2028.

The company says the project is an opportunity to restore and repurpose an historic building and contribute to the regeneration of vacant buildings in the city centre. The scheme will retain retail units on the ground floor.

The co-living design supports the group’s ESG strategy, emphasising reuse and energy efficiency and attaining BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification.

By reusing the building, the scheme will reduce embodied carbon by 78% and Watkin Jones will use sustainable landscaping throughout.

The project will include electric heating for net zero carbon, energy-efficient windows, air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, efficient lighting and energy-saving controls will optimise performance.

Headrow House will offer its occupiers a gym, shared kitchens and dining areas, a cinema, co-working lounge, library, laundry room and bicycle parking in addition to personal storage rooms.

Iain Smith, planning director at Watkin Jones, said: “"We are very excited to announce planning approval for Headrow House, our first co-living project in Leeds.

“Ranked the third largest city by population in the UK, Leeds is a vital commercial and residential centre, and we are committed to providing high-quality, sustainable co-living accommodation that will help to address the on-going demand for rental homes in Leeds city centre.

“We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with Leeds City Council and our local communities to address this growing demand, while also supporting our ESG targets as a business.”