Outdoor plaza works begin at major office campus

Work is underway on creating a £1.5m outdoor plaza at Sheffield’s Pennine Five – one of the UK’s largest office renovations outside of London.

Progress to date on Pennine Five, the former HSBC headquarters on Tenter Street in the city centre, has seen the exterior of the site’s five office blocks given a makeover.

The buildings’ interiors have also been updated to deliver over 230,000 sq ft of contemporary and multifunctional office space – suitable for up to 3,500 workers.

Creating a central plaza has long been seen as a key element in unlocking the potential of the campus, but in also acting as a catalyst for growth in this area of the city centre.

Chloe Brook, director at RBH Properties, said: “We’re very excited to see work on the new plaza get underway. This office campus has always been very private and disconnected from the rest of the city centre, and our plans for Pennine Five are all about opening it up to wider business and local residential communities as well.

“The plaza will be an inclusive and welcoming focal point. It will of course provide great outdoor space to support the wellbeing and creative thinking of our on-site businesses, but more than that, we believe that through regular art installations and event opportunities, it can help bring a new sense of place and identity to the whole area.”

Leasing at Pennine Five has begun, with three occupiers – First Intuition, Department for Work and Pensions and Sheffield College – already taking space.

Several other businesses are currently in negotiations, including one of UK’s largest co-working companies looking to occupy over 30,000 sq ft.

The final phase of the Pennine Five modernisation, which also includes upgrading the 400 underground parking spaces, adding EV charging facilities and creating a cycle hub with over 280 spaces, will be completed within the next 12 months. The plaza expected to open in spring 2023.