Students Mark Major Milestone As Moda And Caddick Top Out New Leeds Student Development

A new 291-bedroom student development at SOYO in Leeds has reached its highest point, marking a major construction milestone in the continued regeneration of the £300m neighbourhood and its evolution as a hub for education and culture.

Students from across Leeds’ education community joined rental living developer and operator Moda Living, construction partner Caddick and city leaders to celebrate the milestone at Domo Leeds, Moda’s first purpose-built student accommodation neighbourhood.

To celebrate the milestone, students from different routes through education and skills in the city took part in the final concrete pour at the highest point of the development, symbolically embedding education both into the building and into SOYO’s next chapter.

A representative from the neighbouring Leeds City College was joined by Caddick T-level students and degree apprentices, who are training on the site. Students from Leeds Conservatoire also joined the event.

Domo Leeds strengthens SOYO’s growing cluster of education and cultural institutions, sitting alongside Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Conservatoire, Leeds City College’s Creative Arts faculty and Northern Ballet. The student development occupies the penultimate plot at SOYO, with just one remaining development site before the regeneration of the district is complete.

The ambition is for Domo Leeds to connect students with the institutions and opportunities around them, creating a place where students can live, learn and connect as part of the wider Leeds community.

Due to welcome its first residents for the 2027/28 academic year, Domo Leeds will offer 291 bedrooms across a mix of private studios and cluster apartments, as well as shared spaces designed around how students study, socialise and spend their time.

Amenities will include dedicated study and co-working spaces, a creative studio, 24-hour gym, yoga studio, karaoke room, lounges, bar and rooftop terrace.

The development will be operated by Moda, which is bringing more than a decade of experience in creating and managing rental communities into the student living sector for the first time. Service, wellbeing and technology will sit at the heart of the Moda Student resident experience, with a focus on creating a sense of belonging and care for students living away from home.

Education and skills have also played a major role throughout the construction programme.

Caddick has so far delivered more than 747 hours of employment taster and work experience activity through the project, alongside 66.5 hours of support for students at local education institutions. This has included work experience for Leeds College of Building students, as well as careers talks, CV and interview workshops, construction site visits and more.

Caddick also works with education and skills organisation Ahead Partnership on its four-year Shaping Our Future programme, which is designed to support young people at risk of disengaging with education, employment or training (NEET). They recently welcomed 40 Year 8 pupils from Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust to Moda’s SOYO student development for workshops, site tours and practical construction experience as part of the programme.

The project has also employed or retained 377 local people to date, while apprentices working on the development have been gaining qualifications and experience across disciplines including site management, civil engineering, quantity surveying and bricklaying.

Johnny Caddick, Chief Executive of Moda and Caddick, said:

“SOYO has been a huge part of our journey in Leeds, and reaching this milestone at Moda’s first dedicated student community brings us another step closer to completing our long-term vision for what is already a thriving neighbourhood.

“We’re proud to be drawing on the breadth of expertise from across Caddick, with Moda, Caddick Developments and Caddick Construction all playing a role in bringing this development to life. We’re now looking forward to taking the project through its final stages as we prepare to open the doors and welcome our first students to the building next autumn.” Johnny Caddick, Chief Executive of Moda and Caddick

Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“Supporting the delivery of learning and skills opportunities for all is central to the council’s ambitions for Leeds, where our student population already makes a really important contribution to local life.

“With its proximity to a whole host of educational institutions and occupying a prime spot within the impressive SOYO neighbourhood, Moda’s new development promises to enhance the city’s reputation as a brilliant place for young people, from Leeds and beyond, to fulfil their potential.

“It was great to see students on different educational journeys playing their part in the topping-out event and highlighting the breadth of opportunities that exist in this area of the city, from further and higher education to the creative industries and apprenticeships.” Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council

Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction, Yorkshire & North East, said:

“Reaching the topping out of SOYO D is a proud moment for our team; it’s a privilege to work alongside our sister companies, Caddick Developments and Moda Living, as we continue to bring this ambitious masterplan to life and introduce high-quality, vibrant student living to Leeds.

“This project represents much more than construction; it is about people and the community we serve. By driving social value, our team is creating local jobs and providing opportunities for hands-on mentoring and work experience for the next generation. Investing in local people is at the heart of our work, and I’m proud to see the positive, lasting impact that SOYO D is already making in Leeds.” Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction, Yorkshire & North East

SOYO is one of Yorkshire’s largest residential-led regeneration projects. Construction began in 2019 and the neighbourhood is already home to more than 1,000 residents across Moda’s New York Square development, as well as the Mercer West and Madison East communities.

Domo Leeds is scheduled for completion ahead of the 2027/28 academic year.