The Store House

The Store House

From high street landmark to sustainable student hub

Transformation of former department store to student-led mixed-use scheme

  • Repurposing
  • Retrofit
  • Sustainability
© The Store House

Challenge

The project involved the complete demolition of the former House of Fraser department store in central Leeds. The challenge was to reimagine a sizeable retail footprint into a scheme that not only met contemporary demand for student accommodation but also delivered environmental excellence in line with both local authority and national carbon reduction ambitions.

Solution

G&T provided development monitoring services on behalf of the funder, supporting the transformation of the site into a 369-bed student accommodation scheme with 2,400m² of flexible retail space. The development was targeted to achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and was aligned with both Leeds City Council’s and the UK Government’s Net Zero Carbon objectives. G&T’s role monitored the project's adherence to key milestones, cost controls, and ESG compliance criteria, consistent with the building’s inclusion in an Article 8 Fund.

Outcome

The result is a future-proofed, high-quality student living environment in a prime city centre location, supported by vibrant ground-floor retail provision. The scheme not only revitalises a previously underutilised site but also exemplifies sustainable urban regeneration, delivering strong ESG performance and long-term social value.

Client

Lloyds Bank
Manner (Developer)

Location

Leeds

Sector