Government department to take up city office space

A government department has taken over the lease of one of the largest office spaces in Sheffield city centre.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will move into No 1 West Bar Square, part of the West Bar mixed-use development situated between Castlegate and Kelham Island, Sheffield City Council has said.

Council leader Tom Hunt said it was a "significant announcement for Sheffield and a major step forward in the ongoing regeneration of West Bar".

"This is a clear commitment by the government to invest in Sheffield and work with us to grow our economy and create new opportunities for our residents," he added.

A council spokesperson said the move was "the largest office transaction in the city for several years".

They declined to comment on the length of the lease.

A DWP spokesperson said staff currently based at Hartshead Square in the city centre and Kings Court on Hanover Way would move to the 2,000-capacity building by "early 2028".

The council spokesperson said: "The agreement with DWP is a further step to delivering Sheffield's Growth Plan and rooting high quality, high-skilled business and professional service jobs in the city."

Andrew Western, minister for transformation, said the move would allow the government "to play our part in a city that's growing and thriving by contributing to the local economy through providing job opportunities and stimulating local businesses".

A council spokesperson said the move also represented "another vital step in cementing Sheffield as a leader in national policy development and delivery".

In 2023, the Sheffield Policy Campus was launched as part of government efforts to decentralise policy-making.

Sheffield has over 7,000 civil servants and over 1,000 policy professionals, the largest concentration outside London.

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