Leeds’ office market recorded 633,000 sq ft of take-up in 2025, in line with the five-year average but marginally below 2024’s high watermark, according to research from JLL.

The city’s steady performance reflects strong occupier demand from within the legal and professional services sectors.

Eversheds Sutherland’s 47,016 sq ft letting at Aire Park was the city’s largest deal, contributing to the city’s two entries in the Big Six top 20 (totalling 155,600 sq ft). The re-gear of Blacks Solicitors at 29 King Street exemplified the refurbishment-led activity that is defining the current market cycle.

Prime rents rose to £46 per sq ft by Q4 2025, up from £39, with JLL forecasting £60 per sq ft by 2030. Leeds has one new-build scheme on site (77,000 sq ft) and three further schemes in the pipeline totalling 488,000 sq ft, but with no pre-lets secured, the delivery timeline remains uncertain.

Investment activity was more subdued, with £36 million transacted across four deals, down 76% on 2024.

Yet JLL sees this as a timing issue rather than a structural concern, with the creative industries sector – forecast to generate 12,080 new jobs – expected to underpin medium-term demand alongside established legal and financial services occupiers. Leeds’ office employment growth is forecast at around 1.2% per annum to 2030.

Sam Jamieson, Director for office agency in Leeds, said: “Leeds delivered a stable performance in 2025 and the pipeline for 2026 gives us confidence. The city has a strong base of professional services demand and we’re seeing growing interest from the creative and tech sectors.

“It’s not just Leeds. We’ve recently completed a landmark deal in Sheffield, which underlines that Yorkshire as a whole is attracting serious occupier interest.”

Connor Rogers, Associate, Investment Sales & Acquisitions in Leeds. said: “Currently the investment market is suffering from a lack of stock – there is a considerable capital looking to enter key cities in the regional office market in order to capitalise on the significant rental growth we have seen in recent years, with Leeds in particular at the top of the shopping list for many.”