Former Sheffield brewery site transformed into booming business hub

Wards Exchange, the mixed-use Sheffield development on the old Sheaf Brewery site, is quickly becoming a sought-after business hub after welcoming three new occupiers.

Sheaf Brewery, creators of the famous Wards Bitter, closed in 1999 and the site was subsequently developed by Sheffield based J F Finnegan into a mixed-use scheme.

Wards Exchange is the final phase of the development, which comprises 35,000 sq ft Grade A offices and is now home to a number of businesses, including J F Finnegan themselves.

Commercial Property Partners (CPP) have advised on all the deals, including the recent lettings to Metro Finance and DSP Design, who have both signed five-year leases in the offices respectively.

Rob Darrington, partner specialising in office agency at CPP, commented: “We are delighted to celebrate the arrival of three new companies to Wards Exchange, including the developers of the building themselves. This is a resounding endorsement of a quality development.

“The 35,000 sq ft, seven-storey building is superbly located at the bottom of the popular Ecclesall Road in Sheffield, close to the city centre and inner ring road. It is part of the redevelopment of the iconic Wards Brewery site by J F Finnegan.

“It provides quality accommodation in a contemporary environment and has large flexible floorplates, up to 5,550 sq ft per floor, with a total of 35 car parking spaces. These lettings put Wards Exchange on the map.”

He added: “With the top floor currently under offer, there are now only two office floors, plus a ground floor unit, still available to lease. We expect the strong interest in the quality office space left in the rest of the building to continue.”

Nick Gillott, Director from the developers J F Finnegan, said: “We are delighted to welcome such creative and successful companies as Metro Finance and DSP Design to Wards Exchange. We are very proud of this development, which is why we have moved in ourselves, and we look forward to more successful lettings as the economy gathers pace and the commercial property market in Yorkshire picks up momentum.

“I would like to thank CPP for their hard work and professionalism in helping to secure new occupiers for Wards Exchange. Their friendly and pro-active approach, together with an extensive knowledge of the Sheffield office market, is a winning combination.”

CPP and Crossland Otter Hunt are the joint letting agents on Wards Exchange.