This week the Royal Armouries has hosted the massive UK Real Estate, Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF).
The event saw 16,000 tickets sold but with fringe events, visiting speakers and logistical support the event may have brought as many as 20,000 people interested in real estate development to Leeds.
It was an appropriate time for the Royal Armouries to announce that they have purchased the freehold of the land the Leeds site operates on.
The Royal Armouries move to Leeds in 1996 was a bold one. Nearly three decades later, it is still the only National Museum to be based outside London. All three Royal Armoury sites are based near water: the Tower of London next to the Thames, Fort Nelson next to the sea in Portsmouth and the Royal Armouries next to Leeds Docks. The national offices, library and archives are all based on the Leeds site.
The deal, worth £11.69 million, was made possible by a government-backed loan via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The museum now owns the land outright, which includes the waterfront buildings adjacent to the museum. The land purchase marks the start of the next phase of development opportunities.
The Royal Armouries is well known as a successful conference and events venue. It has hosted UKREiiF since 2022 and has seen the event quadruple in size in that time. This land purchase creates further possibilities for the Royal Armouries to develop the site. Both the UKREiiF events and possible new use of the land are expected to stimulate major economic growth in the City. Possible use of the land includes new multi-use riverside arts, events and conferences spaces.
Speaking at UKREiiF Nat Edwards, Director General and Master of the Armouries said: “This £11.69 million government loan for the Royal Armouries to purchase the land outright is an investment in the future. It gives the Royal Armouries full control over the museum site for the first time and puts the organisation in a better position to drive future development for the benefit of Leeds. The RoyalArmouries’ track record of successfully hosting events like UKREiiF, which generate £30 million for the local economy, shows what cultural venues can achieve with the right ambition and the right partners. With ownership of the land secured with a government-backed loan via the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, the next step is to secure investment to substantially increase the capacity to grow conference,
event and hotel capacity at Leeds Dock. Leeds United are marching on, and so are we!”
The public announcement was made at a This is Leeds event at UKREiiF, which explored other development plans for Leeds, especially in the South Leeds area. Also present at the event were representatives of Leeds United accompanied by the trophy which took pride of place at the gathering. Promotion to the Premier League will help boost plans for redevelopment at the Club. Plans include an expansion of the stadium, and a better offer on non-match days including a museum and redevelopment of the area surrounding the stadium.
The British Library was also represented and outlined plans to extend provision at Boston Spa with Passivhaus storage, as well as the development of British Library North at the Temple Works in Holbeck. Already two-thirds of the British Library’s collection is held in the Leeds area, and this is set to expand further.
UKREiiF has already announced it will be returning to Leeds and the Royal Armouries in 2026.
It is great to see Leeds Docks so busy, but for much of the year the area is currently underutilised. The change of land ownership opens real opportunities to make this part of Leeds more popular year-round. The possibility of an arts venue and a hotel will make the area more attractive to Leeds residents and visitors.
