Hunting Gate - Industrial Development - Leeds, Atkinson Street

Date: 25 Jan 2002

Hertfordshire-based property developer Hunting Gate has received detailed planning consent for its intended £40 million Armouries Data Centre in Leeds.

The consent, given by Leeds City Council, covers Phase 1 of the data centre, disaster recovery and co-location facility. The Armouries, which is aimed at large companies who want to outsource IT operations and associated staff at low cost, will deliver up to 23,225 sq m (250,000 sq ft) of space when completed.

As part of the first phase of the development, the existing 7,154 sq m (77,000 sq ft) industrial building that already stands on the Atkinson Street site will be refurbished and extended with the addition of a mezzanine floor.

In addition, there is the potential for several further phased stand-alone developments on the site.

Commenting on the planning consent, Jonathan Walters, Chief Executive of Hunting Gate, said:

"Our aim is to create one of the UK's outstanding data centres. Given its strategic location, the Armouries has the potential to attract considerable business from a range of data-driven organisations that require access to well-supplied, bespoke facilities."

With demolition of the redundant buildings on the site completed development works to the 2.67 hectare (6.6 acre) Atkinson Street site in Hunslet, Leeds, are expected to get underway later in 2002. Hunting Gate purchased the site, which has frontage onto Leeds' South Accommodation Road and also enjoys easy access to the M1/M621/A1(M), in 2000.

The property is strategically placed to act as a north, south, east and west cross over and switching centre for broadband services. At present, three major telecommunications providers have laid fibre optic cabling around the building and other major providers have local networks which can be extended into the premises. As a consequence, the building offers exceptional broadband capacity.

The facility will provide the type of un-interruptible power supply, air handling, fire suppression, cabling and security systems, which are required by IT-related occupiers.

Letting agents are David Willcocks of FPD Savills and Daniel Martin of King Sturge in Leeds. Those wanting technical information should contact the Project Manager Craig Robinson of FPD Savills.

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