A Leeds firm says a new office opening will establish its place as England and Wales’ biggest single-site practice outside London.

Walker Morris claims the move to Wellington Street in the business district is the biggest relocation of any professional services firm in Leeds for almost 15 years.

The commercial firm, which has 500 employees, will transfer next year from its current split locations to a building with 76,000 sq ft of office space.

Malcolm Simpson, incoming managing partner, said: ‘The move is a significant investment by the partners and underlines the confidence we have in our future growth plans for the firm. We are also investing heavily in our IT infrastructure, and the overall aim is to inspire our staff, and enable them to work more collaboratively and effectively; whether they are in the office, working remotely at home, with clients or on the move.’

Walker Morris’s management says it has consulted with employees to find ways they can work together to use space more efficiently. The new office, along with a new practice management system installed in 2017, are products of this, and are designed to provide an agile working environment with a ‘hybrid’ of open, private and meeting areas.

Unlike other firms founded in Yorkshire but which have opened offices nationally, Walker Morris has remained solely in Leeds but serving a UK-wide and international client base. Around 70% of its work comes from outside the Leeds region and 20% from clients based overseas.

It is expected that the building will be handed over to Walker Morris for internal fit-out in early 2019.