Pickard Properties has set out a strategy to transform carefully selected larger student properties in Headingley into high-quality apartments for professionals and families as part of its long-term commitment to the Leeds community.
The Leeds-based property developer and landlord, which has been part of Headingley’s student rental market for decades, is initially looking to convert four student Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), broadening the area’s housing choice while investing in the long-term future of older properties.
The approach follows the completion of the £450,000 transformation of a former nine-bedroom student HMO at 187 Kirkstall Lane into three highly energy-efficient apartments, which Pickard Properties is using as the blueprint for future conversions.
Miles Pickard, Director at Pickard Properties, said: “Headingley has been an incredibly successful student community for many years and students remain a hugely important part of what makes the area what it is.
“They support its shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs and have helped create the vibrant and diverse local economy Headingley enjoys today. Our strategy isn’t about moving away from that, rather recognising that carefully selected conversions can help create a more balanced mix of homes and broaden the range of people who can live here.
“There is demand from professionals and families who want the amenities and community Headingley offers without necessarily wanting to live in Leeds city centre or commute from further afield. We believe some larger HMOs can be adapted to provide exactly the type of homes they are looking for.”
Pickard Properties owns and manages a portfolio of around 300 residential properties across Leeds, including student HMOs in Headingley and surrounding areas.
Its strategy is not a blanket programme of HMO conversions, but a property-by-property approach focused on larger properties where changing demand and the need for significant refurbishment provide an opportunity to reconsider their long-term use.
The company will convert suitable HMOs into a smaller number of individual apartments, reducing the intensity of occupation while improving the quality and energy efficiency of existing housing and widening the choice available to residents.
Miles added: “The way people want to live is evolving. Energy efficiency, manageable living space and running costs are increasingly important considerations, while we are also seeing changes in the size of properties students are looking to rent.
“Simply returning a large HMO to use as a single family house isn’t necessarily the answer. Some of these properties require considerable investment and are better suited to being sensitively converted into a small number of high-quality homes.
“That gives us an opportunity to invest in the building itself while reducing occupation levels and creating homes that meet a wider range of needs and budgets.”
By converting larger HMOs into fewer individual homes, the strategy will reduce occupation intensity, helping to lower waste generation, parking demand and pressure on local infrastructure while creating a broader mix of housing.
Future conversions will follow principles established through the Kirkstall Lane project, including retaining the character of existing buildings, improving their energy performance and creating modern homes designed for long-term use.
The company also intends to continue working with Leeds City Council, local councillors and residents as it develops its approach to selected properties across Headingley.
Brianna Joseph, who lives at 187 Kirkstall Lane, said: “I like how Headingley feels friendly and it’s easy to walk around to get to what you need. It’s also really nice to know it’s quick and straightforward to get into the city centre, but that there are plenty of options for shops, bars, restaurants, nice walks and the gym so close by.
“Having good-quality apartments like this definitely gives people more choice. It has made me think of Headingley not just as a student area but also somewhere to live as a professional. This flat definitely feels like an upgrade compared to my student house!”
Miles Pickard added: “We have invested in Headingley for generations and we want to continue working with the community and the council to make sure that investment responds to how the area and its housing needs are evolving.
“This is not about changing what makes Headingley special. It is about investing in its future, improving the quality and sustainability of existing homes, and creating more opportunities for people to put down roots in a community that continues to thrive.”
