Design and art direction company, The Vast Agency, is celebrating becoming the first ‘green lease’ occupier in Holbeck Urban Village, Leeds, as it expands and move into office space on Saw Mill Street owned by Igloo Regeneration.

The company, which previously took up a 750 sq ft office space in the Round Foundry Media Centre also in Holbeck Urban Village, has now moved to a 3,000 sq ft property around the corner following a clutch of new client wins and the launch of its new photography division, Vast Direct.

The new five year tenancy agreement includes Igloo’s Footprint^R lease; a series of ‘green’ clauses which ensure that both they as tenants and Igloo as landlords, work together to achieve certain targets for energy consumption. Other clauses include ensuring tenants and landlord consider sustainable principles in material sourcing, energy performance, recycling.

The Vast Agency has been based in Holbeck Urban Village since 2003 and was attracted to the area due to its growing reputation as a hub for creative talent. Since its launch co-owners Richard Dempster and Matt Austin have grown the company which now employs 12 staff and delivers work for a host of big brand clients including Moda in Pelle and Gossard and recent project wins include Hull Gateway, a regeneration programme in West Hull and Invest in Nottingham, for ‘Southside’ a new business district in the city centre.

Vast Direct, the company’s photography division which launched in March 2010, already has won a raft of new projects including commissions for House of Fraser and Baracuta.

Comments Richard Dempster, co-owner of The Vast Agency: “This area is a fantastic location for Vast, popular with both our clients and staff due to the contemporary feel of the spaces which are set inside really stunning historical buildings. There is a real creative buzz here due to the number of design and digital media companies concentrated in the urban village and a real community atmosphere as everyone socialises outside of work thanks to the variety of pubs, restaurants and social events on our doorstep. When we realised we needed larger premises, our first thought was to see what was available here. Matt and I are both familiar with the development on Saw Mill Street as we both worked at Attik some years ago which previously occupied these offices. This space gives us more independence but without losing everything we liked about the Round Foundry. It was easy to divide the office between the two businesses, Vast and Vast Direct, but it also gives us the flexibility to expand in the future.

“We are also proud to be the first ‘green lease’ tenants in Holbeck Urban Village as we realise the importance of minimising our impact on the environment. I think it’s a great idea for both tenants and landlords like Igloo, to work together to take responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Added Paul Simmons, director at Igloo: “Igloo is committed to regenerating areas according to Footprint^R which is our policy of sustainable investment designed to generate economic, environmental, social and financial value in edge of city-centre locations such as Holbeck Urban Village. The Footprint^R policy has informed our approach to a green lease and in addition to the more traditional lease clauses, it includes recommendations which help us to ensure any investment we make in delivering greener development is continued through the occupational life of our buildings. We want to get the same commitment from our tenants to employ green policies in their everyday working. We are so pleased that not only have we been able to meet Vast’s needs for growth which to us re-confirms the popularity of Holbeck, but that they are our first new tenant to sign up to the shared objectives of acting more sustainably.”

Locally Holbeck Urban Village is building a reputation for its independent and acclaimed cafés, bars and restaurants while the public Wonderwood space offers a breath of fresh air by using what would be undeveloped land and turning it into a miniature park, complete with its own bell tower which has recently undergone a new lick of paint ready for the summer season.

Image (top) by: Vast
Image (bottom) by: Cloud 9 Photography