Public sector jobs boost for Sheffield
CONFIRMATION that 800 government jobs will remain in Sheffield proves that the city is well placed for future public sector investment, according to Creativesheffield.
The Department for Children Schools and Families’ (DCSF) announcement that it is moving to No.2 St. Paul’s Place means that Sheffield will keep 500 skilled DCSF jobs and 300 posts from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
Ann Allen, investment manager at Creativesheffield who brokered the deal, said:”This is fantastic news for the city. Most of the jobs are policy making, which are usually undertaken in central London.
“This proves that Sheffield is considered a great location for central government department relocations with the right mix of skills and offices on offer.”
A key part of the relocation package also includes the purchase of the Government buildings at Moorfoot by Sheffield City Council.
This is a crucial first step in the plans to create a New Business District as set out in the Sheffield Economic Masterplan and the City Centre Masterplan 2008 – the long term strategies for the development of the city.
Meanwhile, DCSF’s new home is being upgraded to incorporate the latest energy efficiency measures and is expected to obtain a BREEAM excellent sustainability standard after the fit out works are completed.
No. 2 St Paul’s Place will be the fourth new office building in Sheffield to achieve this standard.
Councillor Colin Ross, cabinet member for employment, enterprise and development, said: “This is great news for the City Centre which will maintain the momentum of the St Paul’s Place project and will also encourage businesses to take up the restaurant and retail units on the ground floor of the offices.
David Topham from developers CTP St James, said the fact that such a high-profile deal had been done in a difficult market spoke volumes for the quality of the development.
“It is to be hoped that this thriving office development will encourage new restaurants and retailers to St Paul’s Place and we believe it will prove extremely attractive to potential investors and occupiers,” he added.
“As developers, we believe this deal has increased the momentum of the Heart of the City project, which we hope will be maintained until its conclusion.”
