Flex provider takes 34,000 sq ft at Bridgewater Place

Martley Capital Group has agreed terms with workspace firm X+why to occupy space across three floors at the 30-storey Leeds tower.

X+why will occupy space on the first, second and ninth floors of Bridgewater Place and a new 5,000 sq ft terrace atop the office floors on a 10-year agreement, in addition to operating a new reception area and coffee bar.

This will add to the firm’s portfolio of 430,000 sq ft of flexible office, receptions and F&B-led ‘clubspaces’ in buildings across London, Birmingham, Manchester and Milton Keynes.

Serving the Manchester market, it occupies 28,600 sq ft at Salford’s 100 Embankment building.

Since the tower was acquired by M7 Real Estate in 2022, £35m has been raised through the BWP REIT vehicle to carry out a refurbishment of office space originally delivered in the early 2000s, looking to reposition Bridgewater Place for the energy-efficient demands of today.

Office space accounts for floors one to nine at the building, with a 20-storey residential tower above the west wing at a building some refer to as the Dalek.

The fully refurbished spaces earmarked for X+why are due to open in late 2025 with available suites ranging from four desks to a 5,000 sq ft office suite.

Eamon Fox, partner and head of development for Knight Frank, which represents Martley Capital, said: “Securing x+why is brilliant for the asset and the wider Leeds business community and our approach is to excel in the mandatory characteristics of best-in-class buildings.

“The baseline for the future office is being reset at Bridgewater Place.”