After eight years of waiting, can the Gleadless Valley hope again?

Good afternoon readers — and welcome to this week’s Monday briefing.

It might seem strange to think about today, but the Gleadless Valley was once one of the most desirable estates in the city. However, after 45 years of underfunding and neglect, it is now seen by many as one of Sheffield’s worst. Eight years ago the people of the area were promised a major £100 million regeneration programme that would see their homes and communities revitalised. In 2022, a masterplan was unveiled, but after two years of little progress, it was scrapped last year. Now, a new vision is being touted. Can the people of "the valley" begin to hope again? That’s today’s big story.

As well as that we have news of a Sheffield school being named as one of the best in the north, a talk about the fascinating archaeology of the Heart of the City area, and a beautiful apartment overlooking Endcliffe Park.

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The big story: After eight years of waiting, can the Gleadless Valley hope again?

Top line: Built in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Gleadless Valley was once one of the most desirable estates in the city. However, during the 1980s the estate declined and it is now one of the most deprived parts of Sheffield. In 2017, the council pledged £100 million to regenerate the estate. Eight years later, it is finally going to happen?

Background: As The Tribune has written before, eight years ago Gleadless Valley was promised a major £100 million regeneration scheme that would have been the biggest investment in the estate in its 60-year history. This led to the creation of a masterplan in 2022 which promised to transform the area with new and refurbished homes and improved facilities. However, after skyrocketing inflation dramatically reduced the amount they were able to spend, the masterplan was finally scrapped last year.

• Now, a brand new board has brought forward plans to restart the regeneration. ‘A New Vision for the Valley’ was published last week.
• The new board says the aim of the plan is to make the Gleadless Valley like it was in the 1960s — a place where people want to live again.

The vision thing: The new board say that over the next 10 years there is an opportunity to do just that. However, they made clear that not all of this has yet been funded, meaning they will need to partner with a housing association or a private company to deliver many of the bigger plans. The long term vision for the Gleadless Valley includes:

• Building 1,100 new homes, improving 200 existing homes and fitting 140 homes with solar panels.
• Adding 9,000 m2 of new commercial and community space, three new or improved community centres and four new or improved parks.
• Creating 800 apprenticeships or work placements and securing new jobs or training for 2,200 residents.
• Repaving or improving 17.5km of footpaths and improving 5km of woodland trails.

When will it start? The plan has been split up into three phases. The short term phase (2026-2027) will be focused on cleaning up the estate and making a start on 12 longer term “big projects”. Taking place from 2028 onwards, the medium term phase will be focused on improving existing homes, and the third and final phase (2030 onwards) will be focused on delivering the long-term vision for Gleadless Valley.

• Phase 1 will be focused on tidying the estate via a new approach to maintaining the estate and tackling littering, fly tipping, illegal parking and other anti-social behaviour. This phase is fully funded.
• From 2028 onwards, the plan will be focused on improving accommodation via a £30m programme to refurbish homes across the estate, rolling out insulation, low energy heating and solar power for existing homes. Phase 2 is 90% funded.
• A third phase from 2030 onwards will be focused on transforming the valley’s four local centres (Newfield Green, Gaunt, Hemsworth and Herdings), and improving outdoor spaces, public transport and active travel. This phase is not yet funded.

A new approach: At a launch meeting in the Town Hall last Monday, representatives of the new board including people from the tenants' and residents' association and the vicar of the local church unveiled both the new vision but also a new approach. They said the previous masterplan had failed because it didn’t take into account what people in Gleadless Valley themselves thought was important. They said the new plan is focused far more on reflecting the views of the local community, as seen in the early focus on making the estate look nicer.

Bottom line: When The Tribune visited Gleadless Valley in 2023, we didn't have to work hard to find lots of cynicism about the regeneration. Many people in the area had been excited about the masterplan, but the continual delays had caused understandable confusion and mistrust. 

The new board say they are well aware of this but are confident they now have both the right plan and an approach that will bring the community with them. The Gleadless Valley is in desperate need of regeneration. Let's hope this time it will finally be delivered.

Your Tribune briefing 🗞️

American bidders join forces for Sheffield Wednesday takeover bid ⚽ Last Friday’s edition of The Times reports that two of the American bidders interested in buying the Owls — John McEvoy and the Storch family — have joined forces to improve their chances. Wednesday’s administrators, who took charge of the club on 24 October, have so far received at least two credible offers, although insiders believe it may take another six weeks for a new owner to be confirmed. Wednesday will start the next season on -15 points unless all creditors, including former owner Dejphon Chansiri, are paid at least a quarter of what they’re owed, which has been enough to put some prospective bidders off. This includes Simon Jordan, chairman of Crystal Palace FC, who told The Times he was unwilling to pay more than £20m, given the club “probably needs £100million to give it a chance to get into the Premier League”. 

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The weekly Whitworth ✍️

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Home of the week 🏡

Live out your S11 dream in this gorgeous three bedroom duplex flat overlooking Endcliffe Park on Rustlings Road. The apartment has tons of period features including wrought iron fireplaces and wooden flooring throughout. It also has a beautiful kitchen with an Aga range cooker, and a character bathroom with a rolltop bath. It is on the market for £425,000.

Things to do 📆

Art 🖼️ On now at Weston Park Museum is Gathering Landscapes, a major new exhibition about how people in Sheffield have gathered and treasured aspects of the world around them. Curated by Heavy Water Collective, the exhibition examines the curious, beautiful, macabre and magical connections people have made to the land through over 400 objects from Sheffield’s eclectic collections. The show is free but a donation of £5 is suggested.

Talk 💬 On Wednesday at Kelham Island Museum, join Ashley Tuck from Wessex Archaeology to hear the fascinating archaeological stories behind three of Sheffield city centre’s oldest streets: Coal Pit Lane, Backfields and Carver Street. Hear how streets that were on the fringes of the medieval settlement near the castle later developed into a dense patchwork of industrial activity. The 45-minute talk begins at 1pm. Suggested donation £5.

Music 🎸 Also on Wednesday, join multi award winning Martin Simpson at The Greystones for an evening of folk music from a master of the craft. Simpson is widely recognised as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitarists in the world. Known for his powerful and eclectic shows, his performances are intense, spellbinding and deeply moving with stories of love, passion, sorrow, beauty, tragedy and majesty. Tickets are £22 and doors open at 7.30pm.

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