A conversion project in the South Bank district
The project will transform Verity House, a former office building located in the South Bank area near Leeds Railway Station and Granary Wharf.
Whitbread purchased the 44,000 sq ft freehold property in October 2024, and following the signing of the section 106 agreement with Leeds City Council, the company can now proceed with the project. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with completion scheduled for spring 2027.
“Gaining approval of our plans for Verity House is a major achievement in our efforts to deliver more high-quality, affordable bedrooms for our guests in Leeds City Centre. We’re seeing huge demand in the city and this wonderfully accessible location is sure to be incredibly popular for our business and leisure guests.” — Jill Anderson, Acquisitions Manager, Whitbread
Strengthening the brand’s footprint in Leeds
Once operational, the Premier Inn Verity House will join three existing Premier Inns in Leeds city centre. Another 143-room project at Leeds Harewood Quarter is also under development as part of a council-led regeneration scheme.
The new hotel will feature Premier Inn’s latest Standard and Premier Plus room designs.
Whitbread anticipates welcoming over 57,000 guests annually, contributing around £5.5 million in visitor spending, half of which will benefit local businesses in the city centre.
Expanding across the North
This project forms part of Whitbread’s wider expansion plan in northern England, where the group is seeking over 20 new locations, in addition to 15 targets in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The long-term goal is to reach 125,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland. To do so, the group is placing a strong focus on regional development, with the recent announcement of a new hotel project in Cork.
As part of its Force for Good sustainability strategy, Whitbread commits to powering all new-build and converted hotels with 100% renewable electricity from 2025 and aims to reduce water consumption per sleeper by 20% by 2030.
