Sculpture marks Hiscox' arrival at Highcross' Toronto Square
18 January 2012

Highcross has let 3,328 sq ft at its Toronto Square office building in Leeds to international specialist insurer, Hiscox.

The company, which has taken the ground-floor suite on a five-year lease, has relocated its Leeds office, which employs around twenty staff. Toronto Square, which is sited in the city's legal and financial district, has attracted eight new companies, taking more than 30,000 sq ft in total, during the past year.

To mark its arrival at Toronto Square, Hiscox installed a sculpture from its own extensive modern art collection at the office scheme. The Pitchfork, a three-metre high, tubular steel sculpture by Michael Craig-Martin, is on show in the Toronto Square courtyard.

The 90,000 sq ft Toronto Square office building provides high specification, flexible office space, with the added benefit of award-winning environmental credentials.

Highcross Senior Asset Manager, Iain Taylor comments: "Hiscox is the latest in a series of companies which have decided to relocate their Leeds' offices to Toronto Square over recent months. We are very pleased to welcome the company to the building and delighted that they have marked their arrival with the installation of this spectacular sculpture."

Agents for Toronto Square are CBRE and Knight Frank.

Towry take 11,000 SQ FT at Highcross' Toronto Square
30 November 2011

Towry, the Wealth Advisers, are relocating their Leeds office to Toronto Square, the £10 million re-development by property fund manager Highcross
In one of the most significant city centre office deals this year, Towry are taking 11,000 sq ft on the fifth floor of Toronto Square on a 10-year lease. Towry were previously based in St Paul’s Street.

Ed Harrowsmith, of global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, who advised Towry, said: “This is another ringing endorsement of the quality office space available at Toronto Square, which occupies an almost unrivalled business location.

“The extensive refurbishment of Toronto Square was exactly what the Leeds office market required and its delivery a couple of years ago has led to a number of leading Leeds city firms relocating to these superb premises.”

Iain Taylor, Senior Asset Manager at Highcross’ Northern office, commented: “This is the largest single letting at Toronto Square so far, and takes the total space let since the beginning of the year to nearly 30,000 sq ft. The city centre location, high quality office space and award-winning environmental credentials, continue to be key factors in Toronto Square’s success”

Sarah Johnson, Property and Facilities Manager at Towry, commented: “The office move brings the team right into the centre of the Leeds business district. The new premises will provide a high quality environment for both our clients and professional contacts and demonstrates our commitment to growing our business in Leeds.”

Mark McCormack, Manager of Wealth Advice at Towry, added: “I firmly believe that the move will build on our already close relationships with other professional advisers in the area. We are constantly striving to improve our service to clients and are confident that our well-qualified advisers will extend the high standards that people have come to expect from Towry, in the region.” 

Toronto Square is a 90,000 sq ft BREEAM Excellent office scheme, which was completed in 2009, following a major re-development and extension programme. The Grade A office building benefits from a range of environmental initiatives including air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, areas of green roofs and a green recycling hub. Cycle racks, showers and changing facilities are also provided.

Agents for Highcross at Toronto Square are CB Richard Ellis and Knight Frank.

For further information, please contact Robert Beaumont of Robert Beaumont Associates on 01423 323139 Highcross media contact: Helen Symes at Hallmark PR on 01962 774833 or email Helen.Symes@hallmarkpr.com

Highcross posts strong customer service results
14 October 2011

Highcross has reported continuing high levels of customer satisfaction, with its latest occupier survey showing 82% rank it as good or excellent.

Nearly ninety companies took part in the survey, which was sent to occupiers at all Highcross properties across the UK.
The survey also found that 93% of occupiers would recommend Highcross as a landlord and there was particular praise for Highcross’ on-site teams, with 86% ranking them as good or excellent.

This is the fourth year that Highcross has carried out a customer satisfaction survey and each year, 79% or more of respondents have ranked their overall satisfaction levels as good or excellent.
Highcross Director Nick Turner comments: “The survey is consistently valuable in highlighting areas for improvement as well as singling out great performances from our asset management team. We will be preparing customer service plans for each of our schemes, in response to comments made in the survey, and are also encouraging occupiers to give us their feedback throughout the year, using a new online survey facility on our property search website www.space4business.co.uk.

Highcross is now also a member of the Real Service Best Practice Group, which provides a facility for benchmarking individual companies’ customer service performance against best practice in the commercial property sector.

For further information contact:
Nick Turner or Katie Whell at Highcross on 01635 521088
Helen Symes at Hallmark PR on 01962 774833 or email: helen.symes@hallmarkpr.com

Highcross attracts global insurance broker to Toronto Square
16 September 2011

Highcross has let 3,619 sq ft at its Toronto Square office building in Leeds city centre to global insurance broker, Willis Group. Since March, the property fund manager has let 18,000 sq ft of office space at the building, with three deals completed in the past two months.

Willis Group, which has more than 400 offices in nearly 120 countries, has taken the first floor space on a ten-year lease. The company is relocating its existing Leeds office, which employs thirty staff.

Will Monaghan, Lease Manager, Global Real Estate at Willis Group, said the decision to move to Toronto Square reflected the building’s high specification: “We were looking for modern, Grade A quality office space in central Leeds, which could be fitted out to meet our standards and provide an appropriate image and environment for our business.”

Since early July, Highcross has attracted four new occupiers to Toronto Square, including specialist healthcare law firm Capsticks which took 4,441 sq ft for its first Leeds office; Bowman Riley, the architects for the scheme, which has taken 1,456 sq ft and independent town planning consultancy, Indigo Planning, which has moved into 2,595 sq ft office space on the sixth floor.

Highcross Senior Asset Manager, Iain Taylor comments: “Toronto Square has demonstrated strong lettings performance over recent months, despite the continuing challenging economic conditions. The building’s success in attracting major professional firms, including most recently, Willis Group, reflects the quality of the specification and the convenient location, right in the heart of the city’s business district.”

Toronto Square is a 90,000 sq ft BREEAM Excellent office scheme, which was completed in 2009, following a major re-development and extension programme. The building provides Grade A office space, with secure courtyard parking, and benefits from a range of environmental initiatives including air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, areas of green roofs and a green recycling hub.

Agents for Toronto Square are CB Richard Ellis and Knight Frank. BNP Paribas acted for Willis Group. 

For further information contact:

Iain Taylor at Highcross on 0161 877 5631
Helen Symes at Hallmark PR on 01962 774833 or email: helen.symes@hallmarkpr.com

Highcross agrees letting to Toronto Square architects
17 August 2011

Highcross has let a suite at its Toronto Square office building in Leeds to Bowman Riley, the architects for the scheme's re-development.

Bowman Riley Architects is relocating its Leeds office to Toronto Square following expansion. Highcross has let the 1,456 sq ft suite on the lower ground floor to the firm on a five-year lease, at a headline rent of £14 per sq ft.

Bowman Riley Architects, which has its head office in Skipton, launched a new division, Bowman Healthcare Architects, earlier this year and the success of this new business, together with steady growth in its main architectural practice, has led to the move.

Company Director, Matthew Jones, comments: "We needed larger premises in central Leeds and it doesn't get better than moving to a building which we had designed. Toronto Square is a great building, finished to a high specification, and provides the professional image, flexible space and facilities we were looking for."

The 90,000 sq ft Toronto Square BREEAM Excellent office scheme was completed in 2009, following a multi-million pound re-development and extension programme. Since the beginning of the year, Highcross has let more than 14,000 sq ft at Toronto Square, with new occupiers including Capsticks, Franklin Templeton, The Bridge IT and Indigo Planning.

Highcross Senior Asset Manager, Iain Taylor comments: "Bowman Riley Architects were instrumental in the creation of this award-winning building and we're delighted that they have chosen Toronto Square as the location for their continued expansion. Lettings have been very strong over recent months, with a wide range of professional firms attracted by the building's high specification, environmental performance and flexible space."

Capsticks Opens New Leeds Office at Highcross' Toronto Square
21 July 2011

Specialist healthcare law firm, Capsticks, has selected Highcross' Toronto Square, Leeds, as the location for its North of England office.

The firm, which has offices in London and Birmingham, has taken 4,441 sq ft on the third floor of Toronto Square, which is located in the city's legal and financial district. Highcross has let the office space on a ten-year lease at a headline rent of £24 per sq ft.

Capsticks acts for more than 200 healthcare organisations, including NHS Trusts and Health Authorities, regulatory bodies, charities and independent healthcare providers. The firm will initially have around 20 staff based at the Leeds office, which will serve clients across the North of England.

Leeds Managing Partner, David Firth, said Capsticks' decision to open a Leeds office reflects the firm's strategic aim to develop its national health and social care sector practice:

"We felt that Leeds was the right place to launch the development of our North of England practice and Toronto Square offered an excellent city centre location, with convenient access to the station. The building is right where we wanted to be located and offered the benefit of flexible space, which was easy for us to fit out to meet our requirements, and room to meet our expansion plans."

The 90,000 sq ft Toronto Square office building, which has a BREEAM Excellent rating, was completed in 2009, following a major re-development and extension programme. Highcross Senior Asset Manager, Iain Taylor comments:

"Capsticks' decision to choose Toronto Square as the launch pad for its expansion in the North of the country, highlights the attractions of the building's location in the heart of Leeds' professional core and its high quality specification, designed to meet the needs of major corporate occupiers."

Indigo Planning on move to Highcross' Toronto Square
15 July 2011

Highcross has let 2,595 sq ft on the sixth floor of its Toronto Square scheme in Leeds to independent town planning consultancy, Indigo Planning.

The consultancy is increasing its Leeds presence with the move to Toronto Square, which will almost double its current office size. Highcross has let the office space to Indigo on a ten year lease.

Indigo, which also has offices in London and Manchester, set up its Leeds operation in 2005 as a base for advising on and securing planning permission for clients with complex and large-scale land use planning projects in West Yorkshire and the surrounding region.

Indigo Planning Director, Tim Waring, who heads up the firm's Leeds office said: "The team has grown significantly since we opened our Leeds office in 2005 and we needed new space to accommodate recent expansion of the team and our projected future growth. These new offices better reflect the quality of service we provide to clients both in Leeds and across the UK."

Toronto Square is a 90,000 sq ft BREEAM Excellent office scheme, which was completed in 2009, following a major re-development and extension programme. The building provides Grade A office space, with secure courtyard parking, and benefits from a range of environmental initiatives including air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, areas of green roofs and a green recycling hub.

Highcross Senior Asset Manager, Iain Taylor comments: "Toronto Square's high specification office space, excellent location and strong environmental performance, make it an attractive choice for companies looking for prestigious accommodation in the city's prime business area. We have let more than 8,000 sq ft at Toronto Square since the end of March, with new occupiers including Franklin Templeton and The Bridge IT, and have a further three lettings expected to complete shortly."

Highcross agrees letting to Toronto Square architects
31 March 2011

Highcross has let 3,317 sq ft on the second floor of its Toronto Square scheme in Leeds to Franklin Templeton Global Investors Limited and 2,490 sq ft on the fourth floor to The Bridge IT Limited, on ten-year leases at rents of up to £24 per sq ft.
Franklin Templeton Global Investors Limited and The Bridge IT Limited are the latest occupiers to locate their Leeds offices to Highcross’ Toronto Square scheme in the centre of the city’s financial and legal district.

The 90,000 sq ft Toronto Square BREEAM Excellent office scheme was completed in 2009, following a multi-million re-development and extension programme and shortly afterwards won the ‘Office Development of the Year’ category of the national Estates Gazette Green Awards, in recognition of its sustainability and environmental performance.

The building incorporates a range of environmental initiatives, including air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, areas of green roofs, a green recycling hub, initiatives to save waste water and a landscaping scheme which enhances site ecology.

Highcross Senior Asset Manager, Iain Taylor comments: “These are significant lettings, which give both occupiers a prestigious location in the centre of Leeds’ business district. Interest levels continue to be strong and we have recently agreed terms on a further 4,400 sq ft on the third floor of the building.”

Agents for Toronto Square are CB Richard Ellis and Knight Frank.  Franklin Templeton was represented by King Sturge.

For further information contact:

Iain Taylor at Highcross on 0161 877 5631
Helen Symes at Hallmark PR on 01962 774833 or email: helen.symes@hallmarkpr.com

Reed Relocates to Highcross' Toronto Square
29 January 2010

Reed Recruitment is to relocate its Leeds office to Highcross' new Toronto Square scheme in the centre of the city's financial and legal district.

Highcross has let 6,695 sq ft on the ground floor of Toronto Square to Reed Recruitment, on a ten-year lease at a rent of £24 per sq ft. The letting required planning consent for change of use of the ground floor space, which was handled by Highcross' agents CB Richard Ellis.

The 90,000 sq ft Toronto Square office scheme was completed last year, following a multi-million re-development and extension programme. First to move into the building, was Zolfo Cooper, which occupies the seventh floor, one of three new glazed floors added to the building.

Following this latest letting, Highcross will be sub-dividing the ground floor to meet Reed's requirements and create a new office suite of 3,300 sq ft.

Last October, Toronto Square won the 'Office Development of the Year' category of the national Estates Gazette Green Awards, in recognition of its sustainability and environmental performance. The building incorporates a range of environmental initiatives, including air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, areas of green roofs, a green recycling hub, initiatives to save waste water and a landscaping scheme which enhances site ecology.

Highcross commercial development director, Chris Mills comments: "This is a significant letting, which gives Reed Recruitment a high profile, prestigious location in the centre of Leeds' business district."

Highcross' Leeds Office Scheme Wins Green Award.
20 October 2009

Leeds city centre office scheme, Toronto Square, has won a national 'green' award for its developer, Highcross.

The building has just been awarded the accolade of 'Office Development of the Year' in the Estates Gazette Green Awards, beating off strong competition from shortlisted developments in London and Manchester.

Highcross is delighted by this national recognition of the building's sustainability and environmental performance. Commercial development director, Chris Mills said: "It was a considerable challenge for a refurbished building to achieve the high standards required to win this award and we are very grateful to all those who showed their support for our scheme by voting in the final stages of the competition."

The Toronto Square scheme was completed in August following a £10 million re-development and extension programme, which created 90,000 sq ft of Grade A office space in the heart of the city's legal and financial district. The project included the addition of three new glazed floors and a full height extension to the rear of the original building.

The scheme was the first extensive redevelopment/refurbishment project in the city centre to achieve an 'excellent' BREEAM rating & is the only building to achieve this standard in Leeds' traditional office & financial core. It incorporates a range of environmental initiatives, including air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, areas of green roofs, a green recycling hub, initiatives to save waste water & a landscaping scheme which enhances site ecology.

The building's excellent environmental performance, coupled with its high quality specification and central location, enabled Highcross to secure its first letting - to Zolfo Cooper – just after completion, at a new benchmark rent for Leeds. With continuing strong interest in the property, Highcross expects to announce further lettings shortly.

The Estates Gazette Green Awards highlight and reward excellence in sustainable development and are awarded in nine categories, including industrial, office, residential, retail and leisure developments and regeneration schemes.

Highcross City Centre Offices Attract Attention
15 September 2009

Highcross' new Toronto Square and Broad Gate office schemes in Leeds have attracted the attention of the British Council for Offices (BCO).

The organisation, which is dedicated to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector, requested a technical tour of the recently completed schemes, both of which are located in Leeds city centre.

More than thirty representatives from the BCO's Northern Chapter attended a tour of the two office schemes, which together provide nearly 400,000 sq ft of Grade A office space.

Delegates were shown around Toronto Square, which boasts a high environmental performance, and Broad Gate, the former Allders department store, which has been transformed into an office and retail scheme, sympathetically restoring a Leeds landmark, whilst creating modern and efficient accommodation.

Regional BCO chairman, Ian Cowley, commented: "Throughout the year the BCO's Northern Chapter organises a series of technical tours to encourage the sharing of best practice throughout the region. Our visit to Broad Gate and Toronto Square is one of several in area and gave us the chance to see how existing building stock can be renovated, revitalised and cleverly extended to provide new office accommodation."

Regional BCO chairman, Ian Cowley, commented: "Throughout the year the BCO's Northern Chapter organises a series of technical tours to encourage the sharing of best practice throughout the region. Our visit to Broad Gate and Toronto Square is one of several in area and gave us the chance to see how existing building stock can be renovated, revitalised and cleverly extended to provide new office accommodation."

Toronto Square Unveiled By Highcross in Leeds
4 August 2009

Highcross has unveiled the results of its £10 million re-development and extension programme at Toronto Square, Leeds. Work completed earlier this month on the 90,000 sq ft office building – Highcross' second flagship Leeds office scheme to come on to the market this year.

The major re-development of the former Cloth Hall Court, in the centre of the city's legal and financial district, included the addition of three new glazed floors and a full height extension to the rear of the original building. More than 30% of the seven storey scheme is new build.

The scheme is also the first extensive redevelopment/refurbishment project in the city centre to achieve an 'excellent' BREEAM rating and the only building to achieve this standard in Leeds' traditional office and financial core.

The re-development programme involved the relocation of the main entrance to Toronto Street, and the creation of a new central landscaped square in front of the new reception. Secure parking for 35 cars has also been provided beneath the courtyard extension.

Chris Mills, commercial development director at Highcross says: "Toronto Square is ideal for companies wanting a prestigious headquarters office building in the centre of the city, with the added bonus of a top rating for its environmental performance."

He added: "Highcross has made a significant commitment to Leeds over recent years with our two complementary flagship schemes at Toronto Square and Broad Gate. With nearly 400,000 sq ft of high quality office accommodation, the schemes have the potential to provide a significant boost to the local economy through attracting businesses into the city centre."

Corporate advisory and restructuring firm Zolfo Cooper has taken space at a major city centre office development.
4 August 2009

Highcross has let the seventh floor of Toronto Square in Leeds to Zolfo Cooper. The 7,050 sq ft top floor has been let by Highcross on a 10-year lease at a headline rent of £27 sq ft - which is believed to be a new high for the city centre.

The letting comes after the recent completion of the building's £10m re-development and extension programme, which has created 90,000 sq ft of grade A office space.

The seventh floor is one of three new glazed floors added to the building.

Zolfo Cooper will move its Leeds office to Toronto Square next month.

Partner Stuart Mackellar said: "We are delighted to be moving to the Highcross redevelopment at Toronto Square, which occupies a prime city centre location and is close to our customers.

"With more than 50 professional staff in Leeds, we have outgrown our existing premises and the excellent specification of Toronto Square really meets our requirements by providing a great working environment for our highly skilled team."

Highcross commercial development director, Chris Mills, said: "We are delighted to have secured such a high quality tenant as our first letting. Achieving this significant letting, just one week after completion, and at a new high for Leeds city centre, highlights the strength of the location, high quality specification and the added bonus of excellence in the building's environmental performance."

Top marks from tenants for Highcross service.
December 2008

A survey by property fund manager Highcross has highlighted strong levels of tenant satisfaction with both its properties and service. 93% of respondents said they were happy with the level of service provided by Highcross and 82% said that responsiveness to queries was either good or excellent.

Almost ninety companies responded to the survey, which looked at levels of satisfaction with premises, facilities and services. 77% of the respondents said their premises, which included a wide range of industrial and office properties across the UK, were either good or excellent.

Among respondents who had moved to a Highcross property in the last twelve months, there was a positive reaction to the overall transaction process – rated either good or excellent by 77%. Contact with Highcross and its appointed agents was also rated as good or excellent by 81% of the new occupiers.

Highcross director of asset management, Nick Turner, comments: "We are focussed on providing good quality commercial premises and a 'hands-on' service and we are pleased that this has been recognised by our tenants."

He added: "The feedback was also very helpful in identifying areas where improvements or change would be welcomed, and we will be reviewing elements of our billing and handover processes in response to comments in the survey."

Highcross launches customer service standards.

It's not all about the building, we know that many of our occupiers also find our active asset management approach and hands-on service a real benefit.

Providing a personal, friendly service, as well as flexible, quality property solutions, is of great importance to us. That's why every customer has a dedicated asset manager, ready to respond to enquiries, requests and concerns in a positive, helpful, efficient and timely manner.

We like to share news and topical information that you might find of interest or assistance, through our occupiers' newsletters and our websites –www.highcross.co.uk and www.space4business.co.uk. If you don't currently receive our regular e-newsletter and would like a copy, please let us know.

Service charges are always a key issue for our occupiers and we are committed to providing clear and concise service charge budgets at the start of the service charge year and income and expenditure reconciliation after the year end, ensuring costs are apportioned in a fair and reasonable way.

We are grateful for the feedback we receive from our customers. In response to comments from occupiers in our last customer satisfaction survey, we have reviewed our billing and handover processes, and hope that this has resulted in an improved service. In the autumn, we will be repeating the survey, and look forward to receiving more feedback from you, both on our properties and the service we provide.

In the meantime, please click here to view our service standards in full.