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Location Leeds: open for business

Essential guide to the Leeds commercial property market, showcasing the city's premier business locations. Features out of town and city centre offices, retail and industrial premises. Published in association with Yorkshire Business Insider.

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Statistical overview of the economy of Leeds and the city region including information on key sectors, workforce, population and output.

Business in Leeds:
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Detailed information on the Leeds economy covering everything from financial services to the media, workforce and skills also providing an overview of the Leeds lifestyle including education, leisure and healthcare.

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Shared Service Centres

Detailed report on advantages of Leeds as a location for shared services centres. Includes studies of shared services operations based in Leeds.

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Detailed report on the manufacturing sector in Leeds, including case studies on some of the city's leading manufacturers.

Conference Leeds

Guide to 290 venues for conferences, seminars and training events in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Pennine Yorkshire.

‘Perfect timing’ for Leeds large casino licence

The Leeds large casino licence came onto the market in January and is already attracting major interest from potential operators and developers.

Leeds is one of only eight local authorities to be granted a large  casino licence, which permits a table gaming area of up to 1,000 sqm, and industry experts say it will add an exciting new dimension to the city’s already vibrant leisure offer.

Recent figures place a value of over £1.4 billion on the city’s visitor economy, while economic output Leeds and the wider city region stands at over £54 billion per annum.

“There is a compelling case for investing in Leeds: it’s a thriving and cosmopolitan city, with a dynamic economy and a growing population,” says Martin Farrington, Leeds City Council’s director of city development.

He points to £4.3 billion of investment in large scale development schemes that the city has attracted over the last ten years and says there is a further £6.5 billion in the development pipeline.

Flagship schemes in the city centre include the new 13,500-capacity Leeds Arena and the £350 million Trinity Leeds retail and leisure development.

The 1 million sq ft development by Land Securities is the largest development of its kind currently under construction in the UK and will make Leeds the north’s leading retail destination.

Both the arena and Trinity Leeds open in 2013, when the council also expects to grant the its large casino licence. Leeds is the largest authority with powers to grant a licence and the opportunity is expected to attract widespread interest from the industry.

Farrington argues that now is therefore the ideal time to bring the opportunity of a large casino licence to the market. “The leisure economy attracts thousands of visitors to the city, keen to enjoy its exciting nightlife, retail offer and visitor attractions,” he says.

“In 2013 the city’s leisure economy will go up a league when the new Leeds Arena open, attracting international artists and some of the world’s biggest entertainment events. Major retail developments are also set to change the face of shopping in Leeds over the next decade.”

Download a copy of the Leeds Large Casino Licence brochure and application pack

For further information, contact: large.casino@leeds.gov.uk