Leeds City College

Leeds City College secures Livingstone House at Leeds Dock with £8m government funding to create up to 1,500 student places for health and social care training, opening September 2026

Leeds City College has completed the acquisition of Livingstone House at Leeds Dock, transforming the vacant 71,000 sq ft waterfront office building into a new health and social care campus backed by £8 million in government funding. JLL advised Luminate Education Group, the region’s largest further education provider, on the deal, which will create up to 1,500 additional student places. The six-storey building, previously occupied by Yorkshire Water until 2023, will initially accommodate 300 health and social care students when it opens in September 2026, with capacity expanding in subsequent phases. The acquisition required restructuring a 127-year leasehold interest from Yorkshire Water, involving detailed negotiations with superior landlord Allied London during its administration.

Why This Matters For Leeds

A vacant office building becoming a 1,500-student health and care campus changes the character of Leeds Dock. Livingstone House will bring hundreds of young people to the waterfront daily, generating footfall for surrounding businesses. The building sits between the college’s Printworks and Quarry Hill campuses, creating a connected education corridor across the city centre.

From Vacant Office to Health Campus

Livingstone House has been empty since Yorkshire Water vacated in 2023. JLL secured planning approval for change of use to education in December 2025, commissioning technical studies and sustainability assessments to support the application. The acquisition was complicated by the need to restructure the existing leasehold and by Allied London’s administration during the final stages. Lee Conroy of JLL said restructuring the ground lease was fundamental to unlocking the opportunity, and the agreement triggers the release of central government funding. Joanna Gabrilatsou of JLL said the new site responds to growing demand for further education accommodation and will deliver increased footfall contributing to the revitalisation of the Leeds Dock area.

“Further education colleges have been sounding the alarm over increasing numbers of 16-to-18-year-olds for some time now with Leeds City College operating at maximum capacity for the last few years. Given some of our longest waiting lists have been for health and care courses this new facility will allow us to provide more young people the opportunity to train into vital roles across our health and care system.”

— Bill Jones, Chief Executive, Luminate Education Group

Leeds Dock’s Changing Identity

The acquisition adds another layer to Leeds Dock’s evolving identity. The waterfront estate is currently on the market for £10.75 million following the administration of leaseholder Leaseco 23, and sits within the Mayoral Development Zone announced by Tracy Brabin at UKREiiF. The Royal Armouries next door has unveiled a £188 million masterplan. UKREiiF uses the site as its national conference venue. And now 1,500 students will be training in health and care at Livingstone House. The £8 million government funding came from a £20 million package for Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire – the two areas with the highest teenage population spikes in the country. Leeds City College has been operating at maximum capacity for several years, and this campus allows the college to expand its health and social care provision while freeing up space at existing sites for more technical and vocational courses.