Independent law firm set to relocate to new Sheffield city centre offices

Independent law firm Freeths has taken 6,000 sq ft of office space at 3 St Paul’s Place in Sheffield city centre.

3 St Paul’s Place, developed by CTP and U+I and built by Bowmer & Kirkland, is the final part of the £130m Heart of the City project.

Freeths, which is relocating from the Fountain Precinct in Sheffield, is taking the majority of the fifth floor at 3 St Paul’s Place on a 10-year-lease.

The law firm will be relocating a total of 31 staff members to the new office space.

David Topham, director of developers CTP, commented: “Freeths’ decision to relocate to 3 St Paul’s Place is a pleasing endorsement of our development. It is also extremely encouraging that a company with Freeths’ standing as a top 60 UK law firm for quality, innovation and excellence has chosen our building as their base in Sheffield.

“They join global civil engineers Arup, architects BDP and leading Swedish bank Handelsbanken at 3 St Paul’s Place, three other companies with superb reputations. We are very proud of our occupiers.”

“These are exciting times for St Paul’s Place, which is now an established high-quality, low-occupation cost office location in the heart of Sheffield. It is the greenest, most energy-efficient and most modern office building in the city, with a BREEAM excellent rating, and it marks the revival of confidence in Sheffield city centre.”

John May, managing partner of the firm’s Sheffield and Manchester offices, said: “Since we moved into Fountain Precinct in 2012, we have more than doubled our staff numbers in Sheffield. We’ve simply outgrown the space.

“We chose 3 St Paul’s Place for our new offices, because it offers prime office space in the heart of Sheffield and the quality of the facilities is reflected in the high profile businesses who have already moved in. It is the perfect location for us and we are looking forward to moving in. The space we have taken also allows room for the team to grow.”

Simon Hesketh of co-developers U+I added: “We are delighted to have been involved in delivering 3 St. Paul’s Place, a first class office development for Sheffield. The letting to Freeths underlines the quality of the building and will help to further establish it as a significant new commercial centre for the city.”

The construction of 3 St Paul’s Place went ahead following an agreement between CTP and U+I the specialist regeneration developer and investor with Sheffield City Council and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

St Paul’s Place is a mixed-use scheme which features the 161-bed St Paul’s Mercure 4-star hotel; No1 and No2 office developments occupied by lawyers DLA Piper, RBS, Barclays, accountants PwC, Coutts and the Department of Children, Schools and Families; a 330-apartment residential tower block; the famous “Cheesegrater” car park, operated by Q-Park; a casino; and restaurants and cafes including Pizza Express, Piccolinos, Café Nero, Bill’s Restaurant and Café Rouge.

The marketing agents for 3 St Paul’s Place are the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, together with the Leeds offices of BNP Paribas and Cushman & Wakefield.

Peter Whiteley of Knight Frank concluded: “We are delighted that another letting has been agreed at this award-winning development. Freeths is a renowned national firm and the company’s tenancy at 3 St Paul’s Place reinforces the building’s position within the market, as one of the most prestigious developments within the Sheffield City Region.

“3 St Paul’s Place really is a fantastic scheme, with a prime Heart of the City location and excellent public realm amenities on the doorstep. The quality of the occupiers already at No 3 is superb and we are confident that more lettings will follow over the coming months.”