A City Once in Decline
Back in the 1990s, Robert Carlisle, Mark Addy, Tom Wilkinson and others put Sheffield on the map for all the wrong reasons.The blockbuster film, ‘The Full Monty’ highlighted the city as an example of depressed post-industrial decline. However, the recent South Yorkshire development update from Place Yorkshire highlighted fascinating insights into the plans and opportunities for the region. It appears Sheffield regeneration is set to make a comeback.
Airport Revival
Coming hot on the heels of the announcement that Sheffield-Doncaster airport is set to reopen, there are some big plans afoot for construction and real estate across South Yorks. The airport is set to bring an estimated 5,000 jobs and an economic boost of around £5bn to the area. This development marks a major step forward in Sheffield regeneration.
Sheffield’s Innovation District
Tech, innovation and specialist engineering are already big growth areas in the region. With companies such as McLaren and the Royce Translational Centre leading the way in the area surrounding ‘Runway Park’. The innovation district has been earmarked for new businesses and firms working in partnership with the University of Sheffield.
The aim is to develop an area in partnership with Sheffield University, where industry challenges meet fresh talent and academic expertise fuels commercial ambition. The key goal of the park is to keep talent and growth in the region and reduce its movement into areas such as Leeds, Manchester or the South East.
Unified Regional Growth
The ambitions of the region’s councils are now being unified through the regional mayors and groups such as Sheffield Inspires. A key goal here is to create a cohesive regional approach to development and growth. The plan seeks to ensure areas such as Doncaster, Barnsley and Sheffield work together to develop new initiatives and programmes, reinforcing the wider success of Sheffield regeneration.
Housing and Urban Regeneration
To go hand in hand with the industrial and commercial growth plans, the region also has housing and regeneration in its sights. Much of the work is already ongoing. Most will be familiar with Park Hill, and work completed so far in Kelham Island by Citu, but there’s much more afoot. Nationally, people are moving back to town and city centres. Organisations such as Capital and Centric, and Urban Splash are helping drive that change, breathing new life into areas and buildings that were once neglected.
A great example of this is the former ‘Taylors Eyewitness’ building. The steel and cutlery business has moved out to purpose-built premises, and C&C have created a beautiful living space through the regeneration of the old factory. They now have their eyes set on the Cannon Brewery, with some interesting plans to sympathetically tackle the site with a mix of new homes, cafes, and live music venues in the plans.
Attercliffe Regeneration Scheme
The regeneration plans don’t stop there. The consultation on the Attercliffe regeneration scheme has just ended, with plans to thoroughly rejuvenate the area. Sheffield council and the national body, Homes England believe Attercliffe could potentially provide 3,000 new homes and 1,500 new jobs. The plans include adjusting the way cars interact with the area, improving pedestrian access and wayfinding. If the plans are seen through, the plan will open up the area to attract people and businesses into the area. This scheme is set to be another significant milestone in Sheffield regeneration.
A City Rising Again
Overall, there are strong signs that Sheffield is making a strong comeback from the darker times of the Full Monty. With the existing developments and new plans nearing fruition once again, Sheffield regeneration is turning the city into what it was once described as in the opening sequence of the 1997 film, ‘a city on the move’.
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