Milestone achieved at £300m mixed use regeneration

A milestone has been reached in the construction of the West Bar mixed use development in Sheffield city centre.

The first phase 100,000 sq ft Grade A office building and two residential towers comprising 368 build-to-rent (BTR) apartments have reached topping out, with just months to go for practical completion.

Two public realm spaces, West Bar Square in the heart of the commercial area and Soho Yard serving the residential BTR apartments, are also due to complete soon.

Senior officials from Sheffield City Council, Urbo (West Bar) Ltd, and Legal and General, which are all stakeholders in the significant regeneration project, attended a ceremony to celebrate the occasion.

Bowmer + Kirkland, principal contractor for the scheme, showcased progress on site from the top of the office building, No 1 West Bar Square.

West Bar represents the redevelopment of a prominent seven-acre brownfield site on the Inner Ring Road between Sheffield’s Kelham Island, Cathedral and Castlegate Quarters.

It will comprise one million sq ft of mixed-use space including over 500,000 sq ft of office accommodation with amenities, public realm and hundreds of apartments. The project expects to create up to 8,000 new jobs when completed.

The first phase was able to start following a deal to secure £150m worth of funding from Legal & General.

As part of the agreed deal between Legal & General and Urbo, a second 100,000 sq ft office building will be delivered to follow No 1 West Bar Square.

A 450-space multi-storey car park is also part of the first phase which offers around 300 cycle storage spaces and electric car charging points.

Peter Swallow, managing director at Urbo, said: “We are pleased to reach this significant milestone at West Bar Sheffield which is a strategically important regeneration project for the city.

“Indeed, it is integral to the transformational plan for Sheffield city centre, extending its prime core, and bringing forward much need new space for commercial and residential accommodation.”

Ben Rodgers, head of regeneration, LGIM Real Assets, said: “We’re thrilled to reach this project milestone as we get closer to realising the vision for West Bar.

“This mixed-use scheme will create a vibrant new quarter that re-connects with the city centre, delivering much needed office accommodation, housing, and green landscaped public spaces.”

Kate Josephs, chief executive at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield needs high quality, energy efficient office and commercial space so it’s great to see this development close to completion.

“West Bar is a prime example of what can be achieved through strong partnership between the public and private sector.”

Ralph Jones, of Peveril Securities, added: “Our vision to deliver a flagship destination to support demand for high specification, large floorplate offices, new housing, and jobs, is now very real.

“Standing atop of No 1 West Bar is in many ways surreal but also immensely rewarding for the team that has worked tirelessly over many years and through many challenges.”

Designed by architects 5plus with planning advice from Asteer Planning, No 1 West Bar Square provides eight storeys of office floorplates up to 14,000 sq ft, a roof terrace and retail accommodation on the ground floor.

Soho Yard offers 368 residential apartments within two buildings situated around a landscaped space and gardens with access via Plum Lane.

The properties will be delivered and operated by Legal & General as part of its ‘Build to Rent – Homes for Life’ portfolio.