Whitehall Riverside Leeds now complete as Glenbrook and Legal & General deliver £140m build-to-rent development on the River Aire

Glenbrook and funding partner Legal & General have completed Tura, the 500-home build-to-rent development at Whitehall Riverside Leeds, marking the delivery of one of the city centre’s largest residential schemes and L&G’s third BTR investment in the city. The £140m scheme, which was described as Leeds’ largest ever BTR funding deal when it was agreed in 2023.

Why This Matters For Leeds

This is a significant completion for the Leeds city centre property market. Five hundred new homes on the river, delivered by a major institutional investor, with BREEAM Excellent credentials and among the first in the UK to pass the post-Grenfell building safety gateway. The wider Whitehall Riverside masterplan, including the Z office building and EV travel hub, positions this corridor as one of the city centre’s most active development zones.

What Has Been Built at Whitehall Riverside Leeds

The development comprises two towers of 19 and 16 storeys on the banks of the River Aire, designed by Sheppard Robson and constructed by Bowmer & Kirkland. It delivers a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with 25 available at a discount to market rent. Resident amenities across the ground and first floors include lounges, roof terraces, communal workspace, a gym, and concierge. The public realm includes new landscaped areas along the riverside, open green space, more than 100 new trees, and upgraded pedestrian and cycle routes.

“We are delighted to have completed Tura, adding a further 500 homes to our Build to Rent portfolio in Leeds, as part of our long-term investment in the city. Leeds is a dynamic city with a strong employment base, and this development reflects the important role that high-quality rental accommodation plays in supporting economic growth.”

— Adam Burney, Head of BTR & PBSA Asset Management, Legal & General

L&G’s Growing Leeds Commitment

Tura brings L&G’s total to more than 1,000 build-to-rent homes delivered in Leeds, following Mustard Wharf (acquired 2017) and Tower Works (2021). The completion adds to the wider £280m Whitehall Riverside Leeds masterplan being brought forward by Town Centre Securities, which also includes proposals for a 111,000 sq ft smart-enabled office building called Z, and a CitiPark multi-storey car park and travel hub featuring one of the largest EV charging sites in the north of England.

The Gateway 3 approval under the Building Safety Act is notable. Introduced following the Grenfell Tower disaster, the gateway process requires developers to demonstrate compliance at three stages before occupation of higher-risk residential buildings. Achieving it among the first in the UK signals the rigour of the build process and positions the scheme well in a market where building safety has become a major factor in investor and tenant confidence.