The owner of Leeds City College has acquired Livingstone House at Leeds Dock to create a new campus, providing more than 1,500 additional student places.
Luminate Education Group was advised by JLL in the transaction, which is part of a plan to create a 71,000 sqft campus for the college. The project will receive £8 million in government funding to expand education services in the city, creating up to 1,500 additional student places.
Transformation of Livingstone House
The landmark building, previously home to Yorkshire Water until 2023, will be transformed to accommodate 300 health and social care students in the first phase of development. Luminate has secured a change of use application, and with JLL's support, obtained approval in December 2025 for the building to operate as an education facility.
The acquisition was conditional on restructuring the existing 127-year leasehold interest from Yorkshire Water, which required detailed negotiations with the superior landlord, Allied London.
Key Stakeholder Comments
Lee Conroy, regional lead for lease advisory at JLL, said: "Restructuring the ground lease was fundamental to unlocking this opportunity for Luminate. The existing lease structure simply didn't work for educational use, and we wanted to ensure Luminate were duly compensated if the superior landlord sold their interest in the future.
"Despite the added complication of Allied London's administration during the final stages of the project, we successfully secured the changes needed. The agreement triggers the release of central government funding, allowing the building to be reimagined for educational use. The new campus will open to students in September 2026."
Joanna Gabrilatsou, regional head of planning at JLL, said: "The application provided the opportunity to bring a vacant office building back into use within the Leeds Dock area. The new site is a response to the growing demand for further education accommodation for Leeds City College's staff and students.
"Located between the college's Printworks and Quarry Hill campuses, it will deliver an accessible location, increase footfall, and contribute to the revitalisation of the area."
CEO Perspective
Bill Jones, chief executive of Luminate Education Group, said: "This investment is extremely welcome, representing a positive step toward ensuring sufficient supply of post-16 opportunities for young people in Leeds and the wider region in the years ahead. Further education colleges have been sounding the alarm over increasing numbers of 16-to-18-year-olds for some time now, with Leeds City College operating at maximum capacity for the last few years.
"Given some of our longest waiting lists have been for health and care courses, this new facility will allow us to provide more young people the opportunity to train into vital roles across our health and care system."
