Work is underway on a new £400 million development project in Leeds.

Wates has broken ground on the first phase of the Kirkstall Forge scheme.

The contractor will deliver a 110,000 sq ft seven-storey Grade A office building, which will be completed in 2017.

Consultancy firm Zenith has now signed a pre-let deal to occupy the three upper floors of the building, while project developer CEG has announced it will relocate its northern office to the new building.

Overall, CEG is leading the development of the 57-acre site, which is set to comprise of 1,050 new homes, 300,000 sq ft of offices and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and community space.

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Detailed planning applications for the first phases of residential development will be submitted in summer 2016.

Jon Kenny, director of CEG, said: "Kirkstall Forge is unique, it will deliver fresh, sustainable new ways of living and working amongst acres of green space in a wooded riverside setting.

"With schools, contemporary housing, restaurants, cafés and light-filled offices, it will provide the vibrancy of city life as well as the tranquillity of the outdoors.

"Ultimately, this will not only be an ambitious and innovative development for Leeds, but will establish a new benchmark for office developments across the rest of the UK."

Paul Dodsworth, Business Unit Director at Wates, added: "The Wates team is currently making preparations to commence construction of the first phase of Kirkstall Forge, which once underway will bring to site one of the region's most ambitious and exciting regeneration schemes."

(LM/JP)