Key Points
- Vastint UK has announced the practical completion of Kellstone, a seven-storey commercial building at Aire Park in Leeds city centre
- Kellstone offers 75,000sq ft of Grade A office space and nearly 7,000sq ft of ground-floor retail and leisure accommodation
- The building targets BREEAM Excellent certification, plus WELL and WiredScore Gold sustainability standards
- Designed by Cartwright Pickard, Kellstone features a distinctive curved façade and sits prominently on the approach from Leeds train station
- Law firm Eversheds Sutherland has secured nearly two-thirds of the building and will fit out floors three to six
- Construction was led by Leeds-based Moortown, with support from JPT Roofing and Inhus engineering
- Aire Park is a 24-acre mixed-use development combining homes, workplaces, and public green space
- Leeds City Council leader Councillor James Lewis highlighted the building’s transformational impact and its complement to wider city-centre improvements
- Penny Cameron, managing director at Vastint UK, described Kellstone as part of Leeds’ “premier business address”
- Peter Cartwright of Cartwright Pickard emphasised the use of off-site construction and over 60% single pre-cast panel façade for efficiency and waste reduction
Leeds (The Leeds Times) June 2026 — A major milestone has been reached in Leeds city centre’s flagship regeneration scheme as the mixed-use Aire Park development completes its latest commercial building, Kellstone, adding significant new office, retail and leisure space to the growing district.
- Key Points
- How Is Kellstone Being Occupied and What Does This Signal for Leeds’ Business Growth?
- What Role Does Kellstone Play Within the Wider Aire Park Development?
- How Does Leeds City Council View Kellstone’s Impact on the City Centre?
- What Sustainable and Design Features Make Kellstone Distinct?
- Why Is Aire Park Emerging as Leeds’ Premier Business Address?
- How Does Kellstone Fit Into Leeds’ Wider City-Centre Regeneration?
- Background: The Development of Aire Park and the Significance of Kellstone
- Prediction: How Will Kellstone’s Completion Affect Leeds Businesses, Workers and Residents?
Vastint UK has announced the practical completion of Kellstone, a seven-storey building offering 75,000sq ft of Grade A office space and almost 7,000sq ft of ground-floor retail and leisure accommodation.
The development is designed with sustainability at its core and is targeting BREEAM Excellent certification, alongside WELL and WiredScore Gold standards .
Designed by Cartwright Pickard, Kellstone features a distinctive curved façade and occupies a prominent position on the approach from Leeds train station. Peter Cartwright, director at Cartwright Pickard, said:
“Achieving practical completion is a great milestone for Kellstone and a major step forward in the delivery of Aire Park and its next chapter. Kellstone is a high-performing, sustainable workplace rooted in its context”.
He added:
“Off-site construction has played a key role in delivering the building whilst maintaining high design quality. Over 60 percent of the façade uses a single pre-cast panel type, enhancing efficiency and reducing waste. We are proud to be working with Vastint UK and its supply chain on a project that champions longevity, adaptability and placemaking”.
How Is Kellstone Being Occupied and What Does This Signal for Leeds’ Business Growth?
The building is already securing significant tenant interest. Law firm Eversheds Sutherland has secured nearly two thirds of Kellstone and will complete the fit-out of floors three to six.
Simon Harris, senior office partner, Leeds, at Eversheds Sutherland, said:
“We love the positive energy at Aire Park, and Kellstone embodies that perfectly. On visiting Aire Park, Kellstone immediately stood out as the right fit for us – a high-quality, future-focused space that supports both our colleague and client communities. There’s a strong sense of direction at Aire Park, and we’re excited it’s taking a central role in the next phase of our growth in the city”.
This commitment from a major professional services firm underscores Aire Park’s emerging role as a key business destination in Leeds.
What Role Does Kellstone Play Within the Wider Aire Park Development?
Kellstone is the latest addition to Aire Park, the 24-acre mixed-use development that combines homes, workplaces and public green space.
The building will feature an active ground floor, offering retail and leisure opportunities that will look out over the park and create a vibrant and welcoming entrance to the development.
Penny Cameron, managing director at Vastint UK, said:
“The practical completion of Kellstone is another major milestone in the delivery of Aire Park’s commercial district and what is quickly becoming Leeds’ premier business address. Alongside the new Grade A office space, the building will also feature an active ground floor, offering retail and leisure opportunities that will look out over the park and create a vibrant and welcoming entrance to the development and our growing community”.
Construction was led by Leeds-based Moortown, supported by roofing specialist JPT Roofing and engineering firm Inhus.
How Does Leeds City Council View Kellstone’s Impact on the City Centre?
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“The Kellstone building is a really impressive addition to Aire Park and underlines the momentum behind the development as a whole. Aire Park’s emergence as a modern, vibrant neighbourhood is already strengthening Leeds’ reputation as a great place to live and do business, and one where a wide range of partners and stakeholders are committed to driving inclusive growth”.
He added:
“Its transformational impact also complements wider work carried out by the council in this part of the city centre, including the installation of the new David Oluwale Bridge, improvements to Crown Point Road and the creation of additional green space at Meadow Lane”.
This statement links Kellstone’s completion to broader infrastructure and public-space improvements in the area, reinforcing the development’s role in the city’s wider regeneration strategy.
What Sustainable and Design Features Make Kellstone Distinct?
Kellstone’s design and construction approach prioritise sustainability, efficiency and long-term adaptability. The building is targeting BREEAM Excellent certification, WELL certification and WiredScore Gold standards, reflecting a strong focus on environmental performance, occupant health and digital connectivity.
The use of off-site construction methods and a highly standardised façade system—over 60% of the façade uses a single pre-cast panel type—has helped enhance construction efficiency while reducing waste.
The building’s distinctive curved façade and prominent location on the approach from Leeds train station also give it a strong visual identity within the city centre.
Peter Cartwright described Kellstone as “a high-performing, sustainable workplace rooted in its context” and emphasised the project’s commitment to
“longevity, adaptability and placemaking”.
Why Is Aire Park Emerging as Leeds’ Premier Business Address?
The practical completion of Kellstone marks another major step in the delivery of Aire Park’s commercial district. With the addition of 75,000sq ft of Grade A office space, the development is quickly positioning itself as Leeds’ premier business address.
The securing of nearly two-thirds of the building by Eversheds Sutherland demonstrates strong demand for high-quality, future-focused office space in the city . Simon Harris noted that Kellstone “embodies” the positive energy at Aire Park and supports both colleague and client communities.
Penny Cameron highlighted that the building’s active ground floor, with retail and leisure opportunities overlooking the park, will create a “vibrant and welcoming entrance” to the development. This combination of high-quality office space, leisure retail, and green space is central to Aire Park’s appeal as a modern, mixed-use business neighbourhood.
How Does Kellstone Fit Into Leeds’ Wider City-Centre Regeneration?
Kellstone’s completion complements wider regeneration work in this part of Leeds city centre. Councillor James Lewis explicitly linked the building’s transformational impact to recent council-led improvements, including:
- The installation of the new David Oluwale Bridge
- Improvements to Crown Point Road
- The creation of additional green space at Meadow Lane
These infrastructure and public-space upgrades are part of a broader strategy to enhance connectivity, accessibility and the overall quality of the city centre environment.
Aire Park’s emergence as a “modern, vibrant neighbourhood” is strengthening Leeds’ reputation as a great place to live and do business, with a wide range of partners and stakeholders committed to driving inclusive growth.
Background: The Development of Aire Park and the Significance of Kellstone
Aire Park is a 24-acre mixed-use development in Leeds city centre that combines homes, workplaces and public green space. The scheme is being delivered by Vastint UK and represents one of the city’s most significant regeneration projects.
Kellstone is the latest commercial building to reach practical completion within Aire Park. The seven-storey structure provides 75,000sq ft of Grade A office space and nearly 7,000sq ft of ground-floor retail and leisure accommodation.
It is designed by Cartwright Pickard and features a distinctive curved façade, occupying a prominent position on the approach from Leeds train station.
The building is designed with sustainability in mind, targeting BREEAM Excellent certification, as well as WELL and WiredScore Gold standards.
Over 60% of the façade uses a single pre-cast panel type, and off-site construction has played a key role in delivering the building while maintaining high design quality.
Construction was led by Leeds-based Moortown, with support from roofing specialist JPT Roofing and engineering firm Inhus .
Law firm Eversheds Sutherland has secured nearly two-thirds of the building and will fit out floors three to six.
The completion of Kellstone marks a major milestone in the delivery of Aire Park’s commercial district and is seen by Vastint UK and Leeds City Council as a key step in establishing the site as Leeds’ premier business address.
Prediction: How Will Kellstone’s Completion Affect Leeds Businesses, Workers and Residents?
For Leeds businesses and professional services firms, Kellstone adds a substantial amount of high-quality Grade A office space in the city centre. This provides more options for companies looking to expand, relocate or consolidate their operations in Leeds.
The commitment of Eversheds Sutherland, which has secured nearly two-thirds of the building, signals confidence in Aire Park as a long-term business location and may encourage other firms to consider the area.
For workers and employees, the new office space offers the potential for more jobs in the city centre, particularly in professional services, legal, financial and technology sectors.
The building’s sustainability standards (BREEAM Excellent, WELL, WiredScore Gold) and focus on occupant health and digital connectivity suggest that future workplaces in Kellstone will be designed to support modern working practices and employee well-being.
For residents and the local community, the active ground floor with retail and leisure opportunities overlooking the park is expected to create a “vibrant and welcoming entrance” to the development. This can increase footfall, support local businesses and enhance the everyday experience of people living or visiting the area.
The wider Aire Park development, which includes homes and public green space, aims to create a mixed-use neighbourhood rather than a purely commercial district.
For Leeds’ reputation as a business city, Councillor James Lewis stated that Aire Park’s emergence as a modern, vibrant neighbourhood is already strengthening Leeds’ reputation as a great place to live and do business. Kellstone’s completion reinforces this trend and may contribute to further investment in the city centre.
For the local economy and inclusive growth, the development is described as committed to “driving inclusive growth” with a wide range of partners and stakeholders involved. The combination of office space, retail, leisure and housing within Aire Park supports a more diverse economic base and can help spread the benefits of regeneration across different groups.