Member Article

Work on prime Sheffield office building nears completion

Work on site is nearing completion at the 10-storey 3 St Paul’s Place, the final part of the pioneering £130 million Heart of the City project and the first speculative office building in Sheffield to be developed since the recession.

David Topham, director of award-winning Manchester-based developers CTP, commented: “These are exciting times for St Paul’s Place. Accountancy giant PwC has moved into 1 St Paul’s Place, taking 7,000 sq ft of prime office space for their 80 staff. Occupiers already there include law firm DLA Piper and Barclays, making it a high-quality office location,” he added.

Cllr Leigh Bramall, Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development commented: “This development is another sign of the growing business, professional and financial services sector in the city which is a vital part of a dynamic and diverse economy that offers well paid jobs. This is a really positive indication that the local economy is moving forward again.”

Andy Ward, PwC’s managing partner in Sheffield, explained: “This move will give us the additional space we need as we continue to recruit and attract the best talent and expand our client base. More than anything it will be somewhere we will be proud to welcome our staff, clients and our community partners.”

The construction of 3 St Paul’s Place went ahead following a landmark agreement between CTP and Development Securities with Sheffield City Council and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

3 St Paul’s Place will comprise 76,000 sq ft of prime Grade A office space with each 8,000 sq ft floor offering offices suites from 2,000 sq ft. It is rated BREAM Excellent and will be completed and ready for occupation during the last quarter of next year.

CTP and Development Securities are being supported by Sheffield City Council, regeneration agency Creative Sheffield, SCR JESSICA, which was set up to support infrastructure and real estate investment opportunities across the region, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

David Topham explained: “3 St Paul’s Place is the final jigsaw in the tremendously successful Heart of the City project. We are confident that the quality of 3 St Paul’s Place, combined with its location, will ensure that occupiers for the building are swiftly found. Interest has been exceptionally strong already.

“3 St Paul’s Place will enjoy spectacular views over the renowned Peace Gardens and Millennium Square. It is also close to all the retail and leisure facilities of the city centre, together with the central bus and train stations and a number of car parks, including the new multi-storey Q-Park.

“The overall development has created a new central business district for the city centre and has set a high benchmark as to the quality of the workplace provided, the architecture of the building and surrounding areas,” said Mr Topham.

St Paul’s Place is a high-quality mixed-use scheme which features the 161-bed St Paul’s Mercure 4* hotel; No1 and No 2 office developments occupied by lawyers DLA Piper, RBS, Barclays, Coutts and the Department of Children, Schools and Families; a 330-apartment residential tower block; the famous “Cheesegrater” car park, operated by Q-Park; a casino; and restaurants and cafes including Pizza Express, Piccolinos, Café Nero and Café Rouge.

The marketing agents for 3 St Paul’s Place are the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, together with the Leeds offices of BNP Pariabas and DTZ.

Peter Whiteley of Knight Frank commented: “3 St Pauls Place will deliver much-needed prime Grade A office space within Sheffield’s city centre core. We are very proud to be part the team on this successful development which has helped regenerate this area within the heart of the city”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .