May the Force have a new view in Sheffield

South Yorkshire Police has completed the purchase of Carbrook House in Sheffield, as its new Force headquarters thanks to commercial property experts Knight Frank.

The Force will relocate nearly 300 staff from three separate buildings, including the current HQ at Snig Hill, to the new site early next year.

The move follows the delivery of new district buildings, a forensics building, new vehicle fleet facilities and a new training centre for officers and staff.

The cost of buying and refurbishing Carbrook House, previously the Abbey National Call Centre, is around £5 million, which has been largely funded by the sale of out-of-date properties including West Bar Police Station.

South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable, Meredydd Hughes, said: “The Force has needed a new headquarters for many years, but we ensured that our operational buildings and frontline premises were a priority.

“This is the final stage of providing our hard working headquarters staff with accommodation that is fit for purpose and, by acquiring and refurbishing an older building, we will create a new Force headquarters for minimum cost.”

The existing Force headquarters at Snig Hill will become the district headquarters for the city of Sheffield.

Peter Whiteley, partner at Knight Frank, said: “The Force was looking for good quality office accommodation for its staff, in a prominent location, close to excellent transport links, as well as offering sufficient car parking for visitors and staff and Carbrook House provided the ideal solution.

“The great location will also provide the Force with improved access links to Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster.”

Charles Perryman, chair of South Yorkshire Police Authority, said: “This development is the culmination of several years’ hard work in finding a suitable headquarters for the Force.

“We have also been able to secure an excellent price for the building and it will help the police reduce overall running costs, ensuring a more efficient service is provided to the public.”

Lambert Smith Hampton acted for the vendor with legal help on the completion from Irwin Mitchell.

Rob Darrington, Business Space Surveyor at Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “Carbrook represents a good opportunity for South Yorkshire Police who have been looking for a new staff headquarters which ticks the right boxes in terms of price, location and quality.

“All parties believe this has been achieved and this successful deal represents the hard work of all involved.”

Martyn Holland, a consultant in the Real Estate team at Irwin Mitchell, advised South Yorkshire Police Authority on the deal.

He said: “The deal is hugely significant because it is the culmination of a programme which has lasted several years in modernising the South Yorkshire police premises throughout the city moving from old and inflexible buildings into modern ones suited to a 21st century police force.

“The deal shows South Yorkshire Police Authority’s commitment to the city not only in their significant office take-up but also by using local advisors.”