Leading experts within the UK property market are firmly targeting Sheffield as a hot prospect following the return of speculative developments to the city: the latest opinion polls and tables rank the city 12th in the league of European office market strength and the city is rated Number One for contact centres.
Following these rankings influential media such as Estates Gazette and the FT have run articles rating the city highly.
Sheffield First for Investment’s property team has seen a rise in enquiries and the national property media are starting to feature Sheffield more in their reviews of ‘happening places’.
Assistant Investment Manager Elisa Knight-Smedley says: “The Velocity development is one of the catalyst sites that have sparked the surge in interest. The first phase was let very quickly and a second, larger phase of speculative construction is underway.
“Now we have major developments all around the city centre, with substantial and high profile new office buildings either already underway or planned for Central Riverside, Tenter Street, Riverside Exchange, The Square Castlegate, St Paul’s Place and elsewhere within the S1 postcode.
“These are already drawing in a diverse mix of organisations and companies looking to make Sheffield their home.”
The excitement in the city is being picked up by media and researchers across the country.
Estates Gazette recently ran a feature on Sheffield hailing the arrival of big-hitting developers and investors.
In the recent Financial Times Foreign Direct Investment awards Sheffield was commended for its investment promotion, with judges saying Sheffield's "excellent agency is one to watch for the future".
Market research specialists OMIS have also recently ranked Sheffield as the Number One location for a contact centre.
Sheffield First for Investment chief executive Phil Roberts says: “Previously our lack of speculative office space has held us back, but now that is changing and we are very positive about the future.
“The quality and the volume are right and we know we can offer the best office space in the country at the right price. It is very encouraging.”
Source: Sheffield First for Investment e-newsletter 11/08/06