Fortis Vision, a leading national refurbishment and development contractor, have successfully developed four former office buildings into 108-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) buildings with amenity spaces, in the heart of Leeds City Centre.

Acting as the main contractor for the development, Fortis Vision carried out the construction on behalf of L&S Leeds, a 100% subsidiary of Woh Hup Holdings, overseen by Aurum UK, acting as Investment Advisor to Woh Hup Holdings, and the building will now be operated under Prestige Student Living.

The £12.5m project spanning over 16-months saw the full strip out and development of four former commercial buildings into student accommodation, creating 108 new studio apartments, meeting rooms, amenity spaces and study areas.

The scope of works included a full replacement of the external façade, including new cladding, curtain walling, windows and extensive re-roofing to all buildings. Internally, the building underwent significant infrastructure upgrades, new MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) installations, risers and drainage routes as well as a connection to the district heating network (Leeds Pipes) providing low-carbon, energy efficient heating and hot water. Extensive fire-stopping upgrades, structural alterations to stair-cores and the formation of new entrance lobbies and reception areas transform the existing buildings.

To complete the transformation into premium student living spaces, the installation of bespoke FFE (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) tailored to each room type ensured maximum functionality and aesthetic appeal while accommodating the constraints of the existing building layouts.

High quality flooring and fixed furniture ensured that the building was delivered with a premium finish, perfectly aligned with the city centre location and clients brand guidelines. Sustainability was considered throughout the project including low carbon energy, sustainable materials and 98% of site waste avoiding landfill.

Anthony Todd, Operations Director at Fortis Vision said “The development work at Headrow Court in Leeds fully demonstrates Fortis Vision’s capabilities as a main contractor. A project of this size and significance naturally comes with challenges and the team have overcome these to ensure a safe, compliant and aesthetically pleasing PBSA building delivered to the highest standard”.

Philip Johnson, acting as Director of Aurum UK, added “We are proud to have supported this project from inception through to completion. Headrow Court represents a strong addition to the student accommodation sector in Leeds, aligning with our strategy of backing high-quality, sustainable developments in prime city centre locations.”