Deloitte is set to move more than 600 of its staff to a huge eco office block being built in Bristol city centre.
The accountancy firm has confirmed it has secured a deal with developer Cubex to occupy 22,500 sq ft across two floors at the Halo building in Finzels Reach.
The 116,000 sq ft property is being constructed on the site of the city’s former fire station headquarters site and according to Cubex will be one of the UK greenest office buildings when it is completed, scheduled for summer of this year.
Halo will house more than 1,000 workers, with law firm Osborne Clarke also planning to move its 600-strong team from Temple Quay into the building.
Deloitte’s South West division is currently located across two Bristol offices in Rivergate and Bull Wharf, which it is due to exit in 2023.
Deloitte said the move would support its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions and reflect its new hybrid working model, in which staff can choose where and when they work.
It added that the deal was part of its “continued investment” in Bristol. It follows the firm’s launch of a specialist tech consultancy hub in the city called TechWorks, the promotion of one partner and seven directors in 2021 and an intake of almost 60 graduates and apprentices.
Martyn Gregory, practice senior partner for Deloitte South West, said: “The way we work has changed and the lease expiration on both our offices in Bristol has provided an opportunity to re- model our workspace to meet our needs now and in the future.
“We have invested significantly in our South West business and the deal with Halo Bristol not only reinforces our commitment to the region and local communities, but also our commitment to provide a sustainable and inspiring place where our people can work as the business grows.”
Halo, which has achieved a BREEAM outstanding sustainability accreditation, is an office space with fully automated smart technology, energy efficient lifts, intelligent air-quality management, rapid electric car charging facilities and almost 150 secure cycle spaces.
Its design will feature a corkscrew-like staircase rising up through a glass atrium, LED lighting, roof-top mounted photovoltaic panels, a drone landing pad, outdoor space on the roof and a glazed façade.
Gavin Harrison, head of sustainability at Deloitte UK, said: “Our real estate portfolio has a large impact on sustainability, so this is a key factor when leasing new workspaces.
“The sustainable credentials of Halo Bristol, coupled with its close proximity to the city centre and public transport network, makes it the ideal choice for both the firm and our people.”
The Halo building forms part of the second phase of Finzels Reach, the new mixed-use development by Bristol Bridge and the Floating Harbour.
Peter Walford, director at Cubex, added: “This deal is an important step in continuing the regeneration of this significant city centre brownfield site in Bristol’s medieval heart. We are looking forward to confirming occupiers for the remaining space very soon.”
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