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Burges Salmon advises FCA on securing new long-term office space in Leeds

By Richard Clark Julia Davies

26 Oct 2026 2 min read

We have successfully advised the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on securing its new long-term office space at 2 Wellington Place, Leeds.

The agreement provides the regulator with a 36,097 sq ft office space. Scheduled for occupancy in 2028, this permanent base marks a significant expansion for the FCA’s Leeds operations. The move also aligns closely with the regulator’s broader strategic ambition to establish at least 1,000 roles outside of London by 2030.

The FCA Leeds office is currently based at 6 Queen Street and has continued to grow in team members since opening in 2022.

The cross-disciplinary Burges Salmon team advising on the transaction agreement was led by Real Estate Partner Richard Clark and Senior Associate Julia Davies (Real Estate), Richard Watkins (Associate, Real Estate), Nia Stewart (Partner, Construction), Jessica Chesterfield (Director, Tax), and Luke Parry-Billings (Solicitor, Planning).

“It has been a pleasure to advise the Financial Conduct Authority on securing its new space at 2 Wellington Place. Our Real Estate, Construction, Planning, and Tax teams all worked seamlessly together with the FCA’s estates and in-house legal team to deliver this complex transaction, and we look forward to seeing the FCA’s presence continue to flourish in the region. This transaction is an excellent example of the quality of our Tenant and Corporate Occupier team.”

Julia Davies, Senior Associate at Burges Salmon

“Our presence in Leeds has grown significantly since we first opened our doors at 6 Queen Street in 2022. Securing 2 Wellington Place represents a major milestone in our commitment to the city and directly supports our strategy to build a truly national footprint with 1,000 roles outside London by 2030. While our transition to the new building won’t take place until 2028, this permanent base gives us the foundation to scale our operations, tap into the region’s incredible talent pool, and better serve the UK’s financial sectors. This has been a complex and high-pressure transaction, which has only been possible with the support of our advisors. We look forward to sharing more details about our relocation plans as the move approaches.”

Craig Chapman, Director of Finance & Corporate Services at the Financial Conduct Authority

Burges Salmon offers a comprehensive range of real estate legal services across commercial and residential sectors, providing transactional, advisory, and dispute resolution expertise to investors, developers, occupiers, and public bodies. With lawyers qualified across all three UK legal jurisdictions of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the firm provides strategic, practical advice across the entire real estate lifecycle.