Professional services giant PwC has become the first company to sign up for the .

PwC is moving its 1,400-strong Birmingham team from Cornwall Court to 90,000 sq ft on the top four and a half floors of the landmark One Chamberlain Square office building, on a 20-year lease.

It marks a major boost for the 拢500 million, transformational Paradise development happening before our eyes with .

John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, said the move showed the strength of the city鈥檚 financail sector.

He said: 鈥淧aradise is set to bring thousands of jobs, massive improvements and significant investment to the city centre over the coming years, and PwC鈥檚 commitment to move its Birmingham presence here only emphasises the strategic importance of the Paradise scheme in the city鈥檚 commercial future.

鈥淚nvestment in the city by Deutsche Bank and HSBC鈥檚 recent commitment clearly indicate the great attractiveness of Birmingham as a business destination. The city鈥檚 unrivalled transport links and reasonable business costs make it a prime location for national and international businesses seeking the very best office space in the 海角视频, and Paradise, as part of the City Centre Enterprise Zone, will play a leading part in this.鈥

The masterplan for the Paradise scheme
The masterplan for the Paradise scheme

PwC will relocate to One Chamberlain Square in early 2019, in line with the conclusion of its existing Cornwall Court lease in Cornwall Street, Birmingham.

Designed by renowned award-winning architect Eric Parry, One Chamberlain Square will be a seven storey, office building with shops and restaurants on the ground floor.

It will overlook the refurbished and enhanced Chamberlain Square, surrounded by some of the 海角视频鈥檚 finest Victorian civic buildings 鈥 including Town Hall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and Council House.

Matt Hammond, Regional Chairman of PwC in the Midlands, said: 鈥淥ne Chamberlain Square at Paradise was the natural choice for us. As part of Birmingham鈥檚 City Centre Enterprise Zone, the development is a key part of the city鈥檚 growth strategy to attract business and investors, create jobs and improve infrastructure.鈥

The Paradise redevelopment is being brought forward through Paradise Circus Limited Partnership (PCLP), a private-public joint venture between Birmingham City Council and Hermes Investment Management, which has also partnered with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). Argent is acting as development manager.

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Planning permission for two office buildings was secured last year.

Regional Director of Argent, Rob Groves, said: 鈥淎s the vision to create the city鈥檚 premier business address at Paradise begins to take shape, there could be no better endorsement than PwC鈥檚 announcement to be the first tenant. Its decision reflects the current momentum behind the scheme and the recognition of Paradise as Birmingham鈥檚 exemplar commercial development.鈥

Infrastructure works on the office are already underway and have been funded through an approved 拢61m investment by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

Construction of One Chamberlain Square will begin shortly, with completion expected in autumn 2018. The public realm enhancements to Chamberlain Square will also be implemented during this period and the second speculative office building, Two Chamberlain Square designed by Birmingham鈥檚 Glenn Howells Architects will complete in late 2019.