Sheffield Retail Quarter causes increase in city centre office lettings

Businesses are starting to show interest in locating close to Sheffield’s Retail Development Quarter as office space within the city centre is being filled.

Knight Frank has completed the let of 6,000 sq ft of space at Concept House in central Sheffield.

The lettings follow Knight Frank’s recent sale of 80,000 sq ft of offices at nearby Milton House and sees 3,000 sq ft on the first floor let to one of teacher recruitment company, Vision for Education, and 3,000 sq ft on the ground floor to Sheffield Carers, a charity dedicated to helping the city’s carers.

Located within the ring road in the St Mary’s Gate Business District, adjacent to The Moor shopping centre, a refurbishment of all common areas at the seven-storey building provides just 7,000 sq ft of space to let.

Ben White, partner at the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, said: “We are seeing renewed interest in offices close to the earmarked Retail Development Quarter following a period of uncertainty over the development and now that outline plans have been submitted. This is underpinned by work to rejuvenate The Moor which is well underway.

“There is relatively little office space within the ring road in terms of well appointed and affordable small to medium sized units close to the city centre’s developing shopping destinations.

“The sale of Milton House on nearby Charter Row has released more than 60,000 sq ft of grade A suites from 2,400 sq ft to market, and City Gate, which sits next door to Concept House, has a further 58,000 sq ft available, albeit that both of those options are at a higher scale of specification.

“The refurbishment of Concept House has created very desirable space, right in the heart of the action and available at competitive rates.”

Concept House offers a high parking ratio of two spaces per 1,000 sq ft, a full concierge service, passenger lifts, raised access flooring, fitted kitchens to each floor, solar tinted glazing, shower facilities, energy efficient lighting and open-plan suites split between two 2,000 sq ft suites and one suite at 3,000 sq ft.

Allan Calder, finance director at Vision for Education, commented: “Vision for Education is going through an unprecedented period of growth, with 16 offices in key cities across the north of England, and we see Sheffield as a fantastic and dynamic city to be doing business in.

“We are delighted to take offices at Concept House and its proximity to the fastest developing part of the city centre makes the location ideal for us.”

The building, jointly marketed by Knight Frank and Lambert Smith Hampton on behalf of Mapeley Estates, also has a newly completed show suite on the third floor.

Ben added: “There is no doubt that the plans to redevelop Sheffield’s Retail Quarter will have a continuing, positive impact on adjacent commercial property and the window for savvy businesses to relocate or snap up affordable space within the southern section of the ring road will reduce over time.”

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