Home Office to lease Wilson Bowden scheme in Sheffield

The Home Office has agreed a deal to lease Wilson Bowden’s £40m Riverside Exchange scheme in Sheffield as a base for its staff in the region.

The 120,000ft², seven-storey building will be completed by late 2007 and be leased to the Home Office for 15 years. 1000 staff are expected to occupy the building from early 2008.

The building will complete the Exchange site, which will be comprise 380, 000ft² of office space, a 529 space car park and 370 residential apartments situated on the former Whitbread brewery location.

The Home Office building will be built to the excellent rating offered by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).

Ian Robertson, chief executive of Wilson Bowden said: “Wilson Bowden are delighted that after a thorough search, Riverside Exchange has been chosen by the Home Office as the location for this important facility.”

Home Office Minister Liam Byrne said: “I am pleased to be able to announce what is a very significant development for the Home Office and one that underlines our commitment to the city of Sheffield. We expect to see significant business benefits resulting from working in a modern and flexible environment, minimising travel time between buildings and reducing running costs.”