Sheffield council to create a new cultural district in the city centre

Sheffield City Council has announced a new proposal to create a ‘cultural heart’ in the city centre. 

The development will consist of three sections. One building will offer 70,000 sq ft of office space over seven floors, with food and drinks units on the ground floor.

Another part of the development will work to retain the heritage of the buildings on Cambridge and Wellington Street. Proposals for this project include turning one of the buildings into a large industrial-style space which the council have said would be well suited to a food hall or a communal space.

The existing Bethel Chapel will also be renovated to become a live entertainment venue.

The buildings will all be designed and retrofitted to minimise operational emissions, emitting around 40% less carbon than typical building regulations compliant designs.

Sheffield City Council and its strategic development partner, Queensberry, have been working together with the heritage groups in the city to ensure that the buildings are maintained in keeping with the rest of the city.

Public consultation for the project will run from today (March 12) to April 7.

Cllr Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment at Sheffield City Council said: ‘We will be retaining a lot of attractive heritage across the city while also ensuring we create new spaces that are sustainable to the local economy.

‘We truly believe that these new plans will help provide a cultural heart and social anchor to the scheme.’

Nick Roscoe of Hallamshire Historic Buildings said: ‘Sheffield City Council should be commended for taking this enlightened and forward-thinking approach to the interesting range of buildings that we can see on Cambridge Street and Wellington Street today.

‘They have brought in first-class architects and consulted carefully with stakeholders to make the most of these precious heritage assets. This is a project to be proud of and an approach we hope to see followed again.’

In related news, in January this year, plans were approved to regenerate Sheffield’s Old Town Hall which has been empty for the past 23 years.

Photo Credit – Pixabay