An iconic neon rooftop sign – ‘Woollens for Signs’ – has been saved by Urbo, the sister company of Bolsterstone Group, the company leading the joint venture partnership to develop Chesterfield Waterside.
Urbo is leading the successful public/private partnership to develop West Bar in Sheffield into a new business district for the city. Ahead of construction starting on the ambitious £175 million regeneration scheme, the former Woollen and Company Ltd building on Love Street – which has lain empty since 2005 – will be bulldozed to make way for the new development.
The landmark ‘Woollens for Signs’ sign, which measures 21 metres in length, has sat proudly on the rooftop of Woollens Sign’s headquarters on Love Street, since 1897.
Together with the University of Sheffield’s City and Culture team, Urbo has worked with sign specialist Neon Workshops to carefully dismantle the sign (into 78 sections) before it is fully refurbished and displayed at nearby Kelham Island Museum.
Tom Swallow, Development Manager at Bolsterstone Group said, “We are delighted to be able to preserve this important part of Sheffield’s industrial heritage. The Woollens sign is an iconic part of the Sheffield cityscape and it is great to work with the University of Sheffield to give it a new lease of life which everyone can enjoy. This will ensure this key part of Sheffield’s history, at West Bar, is not forgotten as we embark on the site’s regeneration.”
Like Chesterfield Waterside, West Bar will be transformed into a vibrant mixed-use environment. When completed, in addition to offices, it will also contain retail, leisure, hotel and living space and integrated parking. The first phase at West Bar will deliver large footprint, modern office space, currently lacking within Sheffield’s property market, and is expected to accommodate up to 1,800 workers.
The office accommodation at Chesterfield Waterside is currently under construction. Once complete, the ‘Grade A’ offices will boast LED lighting, two passenger lifts, high quality entrance foyer, Showers, 2.75m floor to ceiling heights, air conditioning and cycle parking facilities on-site.
Tom added: “Sustainability has moved up the occupier wish list for new buildings. Previously, sustainability in building design was an added bonus. Now it’s something people expect. It’s become synonymous with quality in terms of building design.
The seven-storey office block – One Waterside Place – is the first phase of the Basin Square character area within the £340 million Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme and is being developed for Chesterfield Borough Council. Construction is well under way and Yorkshire and Derbyshire’s leading accountancy firm BHP Chartered Accountants will take one floor at One Waterside Place once complete.
BHP’s Joint Managing Partner, Lisa Leighton, said: “Waterside is a fantastic regeneration project and offers us a really exciting opportunity to provide first class office facilities for our team and also get behind transformational investment in the area.”
To find out more about the office space available at One Waterside Place, please contact Harry Orwin-Allen at Knight Frank on 0114 272 9750 or Tim Richardson at FHP Property Consultants 01332 343 222.