Sheffield moves forward with plans to redevelop former Ski village

£200,000 has been committed by Sheffield City Council to progress redevelopment plans for the site of a former Ski village at Parkwood Springs.

The funding will be used to carry out investigation and assessment of the site, with the aim of informing plans to redevelop it as a new leisure attraction.

Work will also begin on clearing some of the old ski village structures, debris and vegetation to make the site safe for future construction work.

An ecological assessment will also be carried out to assess the potential impact of redevelopment on biodiversity and the local environment.

Skyline Luge, a New-Zealand based company specialising in outdoor adventure experiences, has been developing proposals for a family orientated leisure destination on the site.

Cllr Mazher Iqbal, Executive Member for City Futures: Development, Culture and Regeneration at Sheffield City Council, said: ‘We recognise the vast potential that Parkwood has to offer in Sheffield, both as a major tourist attraction for the region and as a site that will be central to contributing towards improving the health, lifestyle and opportunities for local people.

‘We can’t get away from the fact that this is a challenging site with many complex issues, but we’re ready to meet the challenge and work to secure the future of Parkwood for years to come.

‘These initial steps are crucial in assessing the work to be done at Parkwood so that we can move forwards and deliver for the people of Sheffield. I’m looking forward to working further with Skyline to explore their exciting proposals over the coming months.’

In related news, progress is being made on a £470m development scheme to transform the centre of Sheffield.

A deal has been made between Sheffield City Council and John Lewis and Partners, giving the Council full ownership of the Barker’s Pool building and site at no cost impact to the city, after the company decided to permanently close the store.

Photo supplied by Sheffield City Council