12.03.18
Yorkshire council to create more than 5,500 jobs with ‘transformative’ city centre development
Sheffield City Council has unveiled a huge new 'trasnformative' scheme which will see it create between 5,500 and 7,000 new jobs in the centre of the city by the end of 2019.
‘Heart of the City II’ is a further development on the city’s previous plans, with the latest work heavily influenced by a 2015 public consultation.
While there is already 60,000 sq ft of retail space under construction as part of the first phase of work, this latest development will see eight new retail units created.
Work is to begin in late 2019, scheduled to overlap with the programme that is already underway in order to avoid delays in the project.
Plans will be presented to the council’s Cabinet on 21 March of this year, with the latest scheme aimed at retaining more of the city’s heritage and constructing new developments within the current street layout rather than demolishing existing buildings.
Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news, saying: “We are pleased to see Sheffield City Council pushing forward with the next phases of this scheme. The revised plans really do target the high-end retail offer that the city badly needs whilst further developing the city centre as a destination for visitors.
“We are particularly excited by the modular design of some of the buildings which gives the flexibility to change layouts and meet changing future demands. This is a development for 10, 20 and 50 years ahead.”
The council initially planned to fund the cost of development itself, although it expected to recoup its funds through rental income or selling the completed buildings.
However, the second phase of the plan could involve new schemes which are delivered between the authority and other joint venture partners.
Cllr Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment at the council, said: “We are seeing schemes come forward across the city and more and more people choosing to live, work and study here. Our entertainment offer after 5pm is thriving. These new plans will see a truly innovative city centre emerging that reflects Sheffield’s changing dynamic.
“We are in exciting talks with major retailers but this is only part of the picture – delivering leisure, entertainment and tourism offers that complement them is what Heart of the City II is all about.
“The scheme has evolved to deliver not just a retail quarter but a new city centre mixed-use, vibrant quarter right in the heart of our city.”
Planning applications for the next three blocks are due to be submitted in early summer 2018, with public consultation beginning shortly after Cabinet, subject to approvals.
Top image: Sheffield City Council
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