Scarborough Group completes acquisition of the Old Medical School marking a major milestone for Leeds’ health-tech future
Leading property regeneration and placemaking specialist, Scarborough Group International (SGI) has formally completed the acquisition of the iconic Grade II* listed Old Medical School from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), marking a major milestone in the transformation of one of the region’s most significant medical and scientific buildings.
The 130 year old building, steeped in medical history, was home to one of the first provincial medical schools in England and up until recently housed the pathology services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. The acquisition completion comes with the Trust having concluded its decommissioning works.
The handover of the building cements its future as a hub for healthtech innovation and is the first phase in the development of the Innovation Village, a go-to destination for science, research, technology and innovation which is expected to create 4,000 jobs and bring £13 billion in economic benefits and development potential of 1.5 million square foot of Leeds city-centre land. The Leeds Innovation Village is a key neighbourhood within the £2bn Leeds Innovation Arc, which will further strengthen collaboration and innovation across the city
The formal acquisition of the 75,000 sq ft building, means that SGI is now progressing plans to create a new chapter for the Old Medical School by transforming it into a healthtech innovation hub within the Leeds Innovation Village, combining high-quality workspace with a deliberately designed innovation environment that helps clinicians, researchers and businesses connect, test ideas and accelerate solutions into patient care.
Deb Hetherington, SGI’s Director of Innovation Ecosystems, is leading the development of the hub’s ecosystem, including the partnerships, pipeline and programmes that will support innovation from concept through to real-world application.
Mark Jackson, spokesperson for SGI, said:
“Completing the acquisition of the Old Medical School is a pivotal moment for the project and an important step forward for the region’s fast-growing health-tech ecosystem. This building has played a defining role in medical education and discovery for more than a century. Now, with vacant possession secured and a clear path ahead, we have the opportunity to bring that legacy into a new era.
“Our goal is to create a place where clinicians and innovators can work shoulder to shoulder; where ideas can be tested quickly, challenged, refined and brought to life; and where businesses of all sizes can access the networks, facilities and expertise they need to make real advances in patient care. This acquisition gives us the platform to move forward with purpose and pace.”
Antony Kildare, Chair at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“We’re delighted to see the Old Medical School take on a new chapter and become a centre piece in the future of healthtech innovation and commercialisation in the city. This is possible thanks to the strategic vision across the city and our close collaboration with partners across Leeds. With SGI’s stewardship, the new healthtech innovation hub will fuel ideas and harness innovation to make a lasting impact on healthcare for patients in Leeds and the region.”
The acquisition also supports the Trust’s long term estates strategy to release land and estate at Leeds General Infirmary for sympathetic development in the heart of the city. This move is possible following the relocation of the Trust’s pathology services to the state-of-the-art Centre for Laboratory Medicine at St James’ University Hospital.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council said:
“As a top-three global location for health tech companies, Leeds is a major force in powering Yorkshire’s Health Tech Revolution.
“This latest development moves the Old Medical School one step closer to becoming a cutting-edge health tech innovation hub, and strengthening the city’s unique offer as the perfect location to build, test and scale as part of one of the most interconnected ecosystems in the UK.”
SGI have submitted an Outline Business Case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) as part of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone programme. This sets out the strategic, economic and financial rationale for investment to secure public funding for the project. The Outline Business Case is progressing through WYCA’s assurance process.
Alongside this, SGI and its specialist design team will continue to refine the proposals for the building. This includes advancing the architectural, heritage, engineering and operational design necessary to bring the historic structure up to the standards required for modern working environments, while sensitively preserving its character and significance.
SGI will also begin the formal heritage and planning processes associated with a Grade II* listed building of this scale. This involves preparing the information and assessments needed for both Listed Building Consent and Planning Consent, and continuing early engagement with statutory bodies and the local planning authority.
Together, these workstreams will establish the technical, commercial and statutory foundation for the project, ensuring that once the necessary approvals and funding are in place, the redevelopment of the Old Medical School can move forward at pace.