JLL has successfully completed the acquisition of Livingstone House at Leeds Dock on behalf of Luminate Education Group, securing a new city centre campus for Leeds City College.

Leeds City College, part of Luminate Education Group, the region's largest further education provider, will receive £8 million in UK government funding to enable the expansion of their education services in Leeds. Livingstone House on Leeds Dock will form a crucial part of this education expansion by creating up to 1,500 additional student places.

The landmark 71,000 sq ft office building, previously occupied by Yorkshire Water until 2023, will be transformed to initially accommodate 300 health and social care students for Leeds City College in the first phase of development.

JLL successfully advised Luminate through a successful change of use application, commissioning and coordinating technical studies that secured approval in December 2025 for the building to operate as an education facility. This was also supported by JLL’s Sustainability team.

The acquisition was conditional on restructuring the existing 127-year leasehold interest from Yorkshire Water, which required detailed negotiations with superior landlord Allied London.

Lee Conroy, Regional Lead - Lease Advisory at JLL, added: "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 in footfall, and contributing to the revitalisation of the area."

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."

The strategic location at Leeds Dock places the new campus between Leeds City College’s existing Printworks and Quarry Hill facilities, creating improved accessibility for students and staff while supporting wider regeneration objectives in the area.