Pre-letting of former NUM building, Sheffield

Holly Street, Sheffield.

Grant Thornton had identified the former National Union of Mine Workers HQ in Sheffield opposite the City Hall as offering a superb location for their new HQ.

The problem was initially when they looked at the Old Office Building it had stood empty for about 20 years and had been gutted internally. There were also title issues to sort out, grant assistance required to facilitate the re development of the property and a whole host of other complications to resolve.

An established regional developer – Brook Group had come up with new plans to convert the former basement car park into bars and restaurants and the upper floors into offices subsequently securing the necessary planning consent. It took them about 3 years to bring the old building back to life given the many issues they had to overcome as part of the reconfiguration and refurbishment of the building.

We acted for Grant Thornton to negotiate the minimum Landlords Cat A performance specification for the proposed office element which accounted for circa 14,000 sq. ft on 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors. This included fitting extra steels to enable GT to install a 120 person seminar room and client entertainment area, a new roof terrace and staff amenity suite, enhanced air conditioning due to the occupancy levels proposed and improved sound proofing to protect the offices from the proposed bars and restaurants below.

We worked closely with the developer and their team bolting on Building Surveying, Mechanical & Electrical and other specialist input as required to ensure GT secured the offices to the required standard and on suitably attractive lease terms.

Perseverance eventually paid off and Grant Thornton now have a fabulous new office which they have further enhanced with their Cat B fitout.