
Under one roof
The former brown field site hosts the city’s refuse service under one roof and will become home to around 130 operational vehicles and the front-line staff who empty the city’s wheely bins and help keep streets and neighbourhoods clean.
Located next to the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) Newmarket House will enable the council to design and operate more efficient collection routes, reduce costs and the carbon footprint, of what is the second largest council run refuse service in the UK.

A Green building
With features such as LED lighting and a 63 kW/h rooftop photovoltaic array enabling the council to export surplus energy back to the grid - the building achieved a Breeam ‘excellent’ sustainability rating. Using 50% recycled aggregate in all concrete reinforced its green credentials and the project was voted runner-up for the 2022 NEC Sustainability and Climate Resilience Contract of the Year award.

Environmental and Social value
The council’s need to reduce its carbon footprint and become net zero by 2030, was a key driver in the design and development of Newmarket House. The resulting building has allow the service to reduce its CO2 emissions by 128 tonnes per year.
The project scored highly in social value too, creating four new construction jobs, and supporting four apprentices to complete their apprenticeships.

Public sector partnerships
Dan Doherty, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland said: “Partnering with Leeds City Council to help them deliver their sustainability goals and support them on their pathway to net zero has been a real highlight and we’re incredibly proud to have built one of the ‘greenest buildings in Leeds’.
Our regional business is underpinned by public sector clients such as Leeds City Council and key frameworks such as YORbuild2.”
“We have also focussed on social sustainability delivering numerous employment, skills and CSR activities which have contributed to a fantastic considerate constructors’ score of 45/45.”

Future fuels
The facility allows for future green fuelling options for refuse wagons as technology and fuels change, with an initial 20 electric charging points being installed for refuse wagons and a further 22 charging points for the services fleet of vans. The facility has also been developed with the ability to further convert all bays to either electric, hydrogen or biofuel fuelling in the future.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, executive member for environment and housing, said: “The council recognises the importance of meeting the climate emergency head on and Newmarket House is a great example of the public sector’s ability to lead the way."