Hailed as a game changer for the Yorkshire city of Bradford, One City Park already is attracting national and international names and burgeoning local businesses. The state-of-the-art building has 5,240 square metres of Grade A office space and a striking steel and glass structure, which won it a CoStar Impact Award.
About the Project: The first purpose-built, high-quality office building to be built in Bradford for two decades, One City Park uses photovoltaic solar electricity panels and air source heat pumps and supports local biodiversity through the planting of diverse tree species and the instalation of nesting boxes for birds. It also has floor-to-ceiling windows that give views across City Park.
The property already has attracted a notable tenant in the form of accountancy firm, PwC, which is shortly to take two floors.
What the Judges Said: The judges all praised the difference this would make to the city. Stuart Howie, principal, managing director, Leeds, Avison Young called it:"A game-changing development for Bradford that will change perceptions of what can be developed and which businesses may invest in the city."
"Bradford as an office destination is often overlooked and development of new spaces in most instances is rarely viable. The project showcases how impactful the public sector can be at unlocking projects, and the letting to PwC is the endorsement of the decision to push ahead." Adam Varley, development director, Scarborough Group added. Rob Whatmuff, head of Leeds office, industrial and logistics, Colliers said: “The transaction stood out as it was the first pre-let agreed on the first new Grade A office building in central Bradford in over 20 years. ... The building specification is as good as any new speculative Grade A office building anywhere in the county.”
They Made It Happen: Eamon Fox, partner and department head, office agency, Knight Frank; Paul Dodsworth, construction group managing director, Caddick Construction; Alex Ross-Shaw, regeneration, planning and transport, Bradford Council; and Simon Dew, development director, Muse.
