Plans have been unveiled to change a former catalogue company HQ into a clinical research unit for the pharmaceutical industry.
Under plans submitted to Leeds City Council, the Drapers Yard building in Sweet Street would be refurbished and made suitable for clinical trials and research participants, while other buildings on the site would demolished.
If successful in gaining planning permission, the facility would be used by the firm Covance by Labcorp - a US company specialising in contract drug and medical research.
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The company currently has two sites in Leeds - at Hyde Street and Wellington Street - but it is believed it wants to move to Drapers Yard to increase its bed capacity for clinical trials.
Other proposed changes to the building include an increase in car parking space and a landscaped roof terrace.
The application lists: “Refurbishment of the building including minor alterations to external facades and the formation of a new amenity area at roof level, construction of external sub-station/generator room and bin store, provision of off-street car/ motorcycle/cycle parking, the installation of plant and associated hard and soft landscaping.
“Demolition of buildings at 20 Sweet Street and the formation of a car park with associated boundary and landscaping treatment.”
Plans for the ground floor include a laboratory, offices, staff facilities, toilets, showers and a social area.
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Built in the 1950s, the building was home to Kay’s Catalogues. It has stood empty since 2004 when Kay’s merged with Littlewoods to become Shop Direct, which later re-branded as Very.
On Covance by LabCorp, the statement from Lichfields said: “One of Covance by LabCorp’s four clinical research units is based in Leeds from where it has operated for 35 years.
“Whilst the Springfield House (Hyde Street) and Apsley House (Wellington Street) sites have provided the organisation a strong location and solution for its many stakeholders including clinical trial volunteers, clients, colleagues and vendors, they have a goal to grow and consolidate their business into a single facility that raises the bar in terms of safety, quality and innovation.
“This investment would facilitate the expansion the Leeds clinic bed capacity by over 30%. The exciting combination of talent and innovative design will support efficiencies and enhance collaboration, offering key benefits to clients and volunteers including.”
It added that Covance by LabCorp had previously looked at other sites across Leeds, and the wider 海角视频, but that Leeds was its preferred location “given
the organisation’s history with the city and its access to talent”.
The statement read: “Of all the sites considered in Leeds, Drapers Yard was the only suitable site to match the requirements of close proximity to an Accident & Emergency unit, a requirement of MHRA accreditation, and a large enough floor plate to conduct clinical operations on a single floor.
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“In addition, the possibility to stay within the city facilitates the retention of the existing volunteer base, local vendors and most importantly, the talented Covance by LabCorp staff team.”
A decision on the plan is expected to take place in the coming months.