I share your positivity about Heart of the City. However, there's an important bit of the story that you missed. Round about the time Nalin Seneviratne was having his thoughts about a different approach to that of the ill-fated New Retail Quarter, a colleague of mine at Hallamshire Historic Buildings, frustrated by decades of Council-led slash-and-burn projects, asked to meet him to discuss how this time it could be different. To Nalin's enormous credit, he agreed. Soon after, the newly-formed Joined Up Heritage Sheffield had a similar idea, and again, Nalin was prepared not only to meet but also to listen, and then to set up meetings with the Council's partners. If you look back at the 2018 Heart of the City II Masterplan, some parts look very different - and much less heritage-friendly - to what is now being delivered. It was the first time within my memory that the Council had had any serious discussions with heritage campaigners so early in the process, and both organisations believe that our involvement made a difference, especially to Cambridge and Wellington Streets.
Not everything in the garden is rosy. The loss of the historic Athol Hotel on Pinstone Street was unnecessary and avoidable, but it had been planned for at least two decades and proved too hard to stop, showing that municipal stubbornness dies hard. The equally unnecessary loss of the Sportsman in Cambridge Street has robbed Leah's Yard of its historic context (nearly all the buildings were erected in a single year, 1863). But there were positives, too: before speaking with Nalin we’d thought there was no hope of keeping the Bethel Primitive Methodist Chapel, nor Henry's (former Barleycorn Inn), nor the buildings on Wellington Street. So his foresight deserves recognition, as does the effectiveness of HHB and JUHS in working with him and his team in a pragmatic and constructive spirit.
And it has set a precedent. The Council by no means have the habit of early engagement, but they've done it once without catastrophe, and conversations we've had since suggest that they see its benefits. Next time you write an article on a major development, get in touch to find out whether HoC was a flash in the plan.
By the way, a quarter of a century is a serious underestimate of the length of time this particular project has been brewing. It began in the late 1950s, when the Council abandoned their idea of creating a civic zone around the Town Hall and decided that the area's regeneration would be retail-led instead, giving John Lewis a long lease on the site where their store now stands to begin the process. The pressure to knock everything down and build shiny new shops had been building for around 60 years when HoC was conceived, so it's no surprise that some assumptions where hard to shift.
Thanks for your super interesting comment as always Robin. Nalin did give me a lot more information but I had to cut it down to a reasonable length. James O’Hara and Tom Wolfenden told me that other cities were now taking an interest in what Sheffiield had done with Heart of the City so maybe it can be a blueprint going forward of how you can regenerate AND retain heritage?
The vision for smaller units is great and if you are not buying large packets then cycling into the city centre, especially on an ebike, is a consideration but there is no where safe from theives. Within all these developments and perhaps in the old John Lewis building a safe lock up for cyclists is needed. Most people with an expensive bike would be happy to pay a fee. The safe cycle parking at the station is full up and is not convenient for the city centre.
There is a secure cycle storage unit (with showers) going under the Wellington St NCP car park. The entrance will be at the back of The Furnace in Charter Square. It looks like it is nearly finished.
Yes great article and I think the City Centre is beginning to look really good. I'm excited about the Leah's Yard development. While I agree there is less demand for general retail in city centres today ( and particularly for the repetitious, characterless high street shops that are all over the country) I do think there will be high demand for smaller independent outlets selling unique stuff. Sharrowvale Road, various other street markets like Pollen, and even the new St Lukes vintage store on The Moor are all testament to the popularity of this kind of shopping as a leisure activity, surely? And the secure bike storage will certainly make a difference to how I travel into town (in nice weather anyway). But I worry about a bit about the business rates in the city centre- will they be affordable for smaller companies?
I wouldn’t lose sleep over it Jim, it’s already building up huge momentum. The focus on heritage, independence and liveability is an obvious blueprint for other cities. I agree, an excellent piece.
Oct 21, 2023·edited Oct 21, 2023Liked by Dan Hayes
I really enjoyed this piece and it’s great to see what’s actually there when the scaffolding and hoardings come down. I work with young people and several have mentioned Pound Park in particular as somewhere they feel safe handing out with friends and that’s an important part of any city centre.
“the dated and soon-to-be-demolished Midcity House makes it look like the Soviet Union did actually drop an atomic bomb on The Moor back in 1984 after all.“ My brain is not going to rest until I point out that the nuke was dropped on a base 20 miles outside Sheffield in the film Threads not on the actual Moor. If it had been the famous ‘Woman Who Urinates On Herself’* while stood on The Moor would have been vaporised immediately.
*IMDB give her star billing picture wise and all caps, she’s that iconic.
Thanks for your comment Fiona. And yes, I realise now that if the bomb had been dropped on the Moor itself it would have been a very short film! Our piece about Threads from two years ago is here by the way.
So refreshing to read an optimistic view of the city centre. Since I moved here two years ago I've felt excited about the growth of the city, and quickly grown tired of the naysaying that prevails (not exclusive to Sheffield I know...). Have always enjoyed the OHara backed businesses, The Pearl, Gatsby etc so sure the Yard will be similar quality
Thanks Farah! Maybe I’ve been a bit unfair in picking out the worst comments but the negativity is something you notice after you’ve lived here for a while. Sheffield isn’t perfect by any means but it does have a lot going for it and hopefully Heart of the City will add to that. I agree James’s venues are great — try Public if you haven’t already!
On a slight tangent, I'd like to pick up on the comment that as you get older, the stereoetype is that you move out to the country for a sedate lifestyle. My wife and I moved up from the South to be near my stepson. We aren't right in the centre, but we are in a tower block that overlooks the south-west part of Sheffield, with views out to the Peak District. We love it, partly because most of the facilities we need are all nearby, including medical facilities which tend to be more important as you get older. What's more, they're all within a level walk. I've lived in the country before, and it wasn't half so convenient - a 30-minute drive to the nearest town for a supermarket, for example. Similar for the hospital (now within walking distance). My one anxiety was that the air quality might be poorer in a city, but so far it's fine at 6 storeys up - not sure what it is at street level, but we don't spend the majority of our life there!
The bland optimism of most of the comments really makes my head ache.Do they ever talk or listen to Sheffielders outside the bubble of the Tribune? Do they ever hear the concerns of real people who regard a graffiti ridden city centre with its coterie of spice addicts-alcoholics and violence as somewhere to be avoided ? I don't know why Dan Hayes don't spend his time proclaiming this new Jerusalem.
Thanks for your comment Ron but I’m just trying to spread a little positivity! I agree there are problems in the city centre (stay tuned for a story about this soon) but I just thought Sheffield Council deserved some credit for investing in the city centre. The original Heart of the City development would have destroyed that entire area but as a result of the decisions that were made, the street plan and several of the historic buildings have been saved. Surely you accept that’s a good news story?
Sounds like you're easily pleased, Dan - I wish I could be happy with the current development because the original plan was awful! How much of the "Heart of the City" is affordable housing? How much of the new spaces will allow its visitors to do things without having to spend any money, apart from the Pound "Park"? It's nice that they put a playground there but it's really not something that unusual or special - or is the reality so grim in the UK that we are supposed to cheer because a small piece of land has been granted to the public? Have you been to Paris and have you seen how the city is making sure that there are plenty of public spaces in which citizens can do things for free - play, rest, gather, use public toilets (anybody remember these?), walk, cycle, protest, farm, garden - where are these spaces and infrastructure in this new "Heart" of Sheffield? Because what I see and read about it your article is an array of commercial spaces targetting different, wealthier demographic than the Moor.
Thanks for your comment Marta. Easily pleased is one explanation for my point of view. Another could be not wanting to be cynical and always assume everyone is acting in bad faith. In another comment you ask what have we got for the money. Well, we have major companies basing their regional headquarters in Sheffield, with all the benefits of footfall that will bring to the businesses of the city centre. We have three amazing heritage buildings brought back into use and John Lewis is now going to be renovated by the developer which did Park Hill. I happen to think those things are positive for Sheffield but people are free to disagree if they wish.
Thank you for responding, Dan. I think having high expectations of your valued local goverment and wanting better for the city you live in doesn't necessarily equal cynicism :-) Regarding major companies basing their HQ in Sheffield (what are they by the way? Are they moving to Sheffield from somewhere else?) - couldn't the city just lease the land to developers if it's such a profitable prospect with the footfall? Why did it have to be paid for with a massive loan? Great about the buildings, JL included. I just wish this project was less linked to commercialisation and more to social inclusion and quality of life for all, not just the wealthy.
For example, will there be space for the Sheffield's Foodhall that had to close down? Or just a food hall for the London transplants that you described in another "positivity spreading" article? 🥲 I would LOVE to be able to cheer for the council actions and to see proper regeneration, I'm all for it, but this project saddens me. I appreciate your writing and it's great food for thought and source of information about what's going on, but sometimes I can't help but wish you could be a bit more of a critical friend to those in power :-)
Ron, a lot of 'real people' who enjoy the city centre and spend a lot of time there working, eating, drinking and seeing events are rather tired of always reading about people complaining about the city centre when their experience is very positive. Since I've lived here the centre continues to be busier and more buzzing in daytime and nighttime activity, especially over the past year. It's entirely fair to criticise the centre on certain things that the centre doesn't have that other cities do; for me, it's a lack of large museums and galleries to always have something new to visit with family and kids and spend a rainy day wandering about. But pointing out those particular things you mention like graffiti and people on streets, which Sheffield city centre has far, far less of a problem with than other cities I've lived in or spent time in, makes it seem like you'd avoid any city centre, not just Sheffield. Apologies if I've picked up on the wrong concerns.
I need some help on the graffiti tagging front Ron. No one is reporting it to the police as criminal damage, so they can't allocate resources to identify the people responsible. Photos in the Google link :https://photos.app.goo.gl/3pCZPPDAYSnw7PJGA
More power to your elbow Bridget- firstly some home truths - the businesses who suffer from this disgraceful activity have given up in the main.They shouldnt- secondly it is another indication of the long term failing of Policing in the city.Thirdly Sheffield Bid's resources are wholly inadequate to deal with the problem.I would love to see 'Dyson' get his just deserts -via J Edgar Hoover ?- keep me posted Bridget - glad to help in any way I can- glad you and Paul are enjoying your inner city sojourn - Sheffield needs more folk like you. Ron
Yes they have given up. I go in and speak to them and ask them to report it. No one wants to spend 40 mins ringing 101. The council don't report damage to their own property and I suspect some poor soul in property services won't have time to report either and still do their day job. We need the Director of Leeds Streetscene seconded here to show Sheffield how it is done. They manage to achieve a fantastic streetscene. I see no reason why we can't do the same.
You are spot on. People call Sheffield a dump because of the graffiti and fly posting. Even the areas that are revamped like Fitzalan Square are repeatedly tagged. Everthing that is done to improve the centre is ruined with tagging and fly posting.
Do you have "Love Clean Streets" in Sheffield - it is a great app for reporting environmental issues - fly tipping - dog mess anything and everything on the streets
Thanks. We tend to use Fix My Street. Graffiti and flyposting are more complex to deal with when they are private property (businesses etc) as it isn't the council's responsibility.
When were the public consulted on what they wanted? Without the money to spend the public can’t take advantage of these developments e.g. how much was the flat? As a campaigner for publicly owned free buses £500m would transform not just Sheffield but SY & give everyone at least £1000 a year to spend. & start to get cars off the roads. We nearly achieved it in the 70’s.
I am really impressed by what is emerging (slowly) from the scaffolding... I’ve lived in Sheffield for almost 60 years, and the decay to the city centre has long been a growing blight, but I think what Sheffield Council have created is just what we needed! Damnation to the naysayers!
How can you speak to a lack of community when they've put restrictions to prevent subletting and Airbnb usage? Are permanent residents of an apartment building not the foundation of establishing a community in the area?
Airbnb is a website which people use to advertise their properties as short-term holiday lets. In the article, it says Burgess House "has 52 flats, none of which can be sublet or used as Airbnbs". This means that all the flats' residents own their flats, reducing the number who move in and out each year, which should help build more of a community than holiday makers or rental tenants on 6-12 month contracts.
Great article , full of optimism about the city , which is not Leeds and Manchester and never will be.Unfortunately the safety net for many vulnerable people has been taken away and this is reflected in some of the other comments . I am amazed at how many people I know have never visited Grey to Green .Love Sheffield .
We live very close to the city centre but rarely visit since John Lewis closed. We did make a trip in recently and I think it looks promising. It still feels very grim near the cathedral and the end of Fargate and Chapel Walk is tragic but the new buildings and the Moor seem brighter...but what will happen to the Debenhams building?
I try and look at it through the eyes of young people who will make more use of the hospitality than we will.
Our son (who grew up in Sheffield and now lives in York) visited with some friends recently and had a great time around Kelham Island and then the City Centre.
I visit Sharrowvale Road daily for coffee and lunch and occasionally venture as far as Eccelshall Road and Endcliffe Park 😄..there are always lot of people walking around of all ages...I feel very comfortable. It would be interesting to see an article on the health of other local shopping areas in the city.
Tim that's a very valid comment. I live in Totley and as a community library trustee speak to lots of people who never venture into the city centre now that JL and Debenhams has closed. Personally the cultural offer the city centre in my opinion is very good and is the main reason for me visiting (The Tribune and Dan Hayes does a good job of highlighting these cultural events), however the food offering is still relatively poor. Having come back from travelling around Europe, I was amazed at places like Stuggart in Germany, a similar city, industrial and multicultural. But the centre there has reinvented itself with arts, cultural, cuisine and open social spaces. The Markthalle is an impressive art nouveau listed building with everything from fresh veg to oyster and tapas bars, surrounded on the top floor by quality home and decor store - a model for what John Lewis could become (although I would prefer JL to have been turned into a major contemporary art gallery), which Stuttgart also has right at the centre of the town. Most impressively Stuttgart has a 'Sharrowvale' offer right in the centre, with lots of independent boutiques and eateries making for an eclectic and vibrant city centre. Its street sign posts are electronic and highlight when a concert is event is taking place and where and at what time! The Germans certainly know how to do efficiency well, most impressive of all were the quality of its leisure centres and swimming pools. Pond Street by comparison is a disgrace and needs some considerable investment. I no longer use the facilities there and go to Dronfield instead for netball and swimming, which is a real shame as 5 minutes on the train to Sheffield and a walk across the road is a much more environmentally friendly journey than me driving to Dronfield.
I loved reading this. Thank you. The comment about seeing the Peak District hills in the distance really resonated. Turning a random corner or cresting a steep street, you can suddenly see incredible, far-reaching views that lift the spirits hugely. Sheffield occupies such an amazing space. I hope that one day it will come into its own as a beautiful, interesting city that harmonises urban buzz with a thriving sense of nature.
I'm really happy that small retail units will be available but with a cost of living crisis set to last years, when will Sheffield reach peak hospitality? There's only so much money to go round and increased cafe, restaurant and bar provision risks spreading the money so thinly, failures are bound to start happening.
I share your positivity about Heart of the City. However, there's an important bit of the story that you missed. Round about the time Nalin Seneviratne was having his thoughts about a different approach to that of the ill-fated New Retail Quarter, a colleague of mine at Hallamshire Historic Buildings, frustrated by decades of Council-led slash-and-burn projects, asked to meet him to discuss how this time it could be different. To Nalin's enormous credit, he agreed. Soon after, the newly-formed Joined Up Heritage Sheffield had a similar idea, and again, Nalin was prepared not only to meet but also to listen, and then to set up meetings with the Council's partners. If you look back at the 2018 Heart of the City II Masterplan, some parts look very different - and much less heritage-friendly - to what is now being delivered. It was the first time within my memory that the Council had had any serious discussions with heritage campaigners so early in the process, and both organisations believe that our involvement made a difference, especially to Cambridge and Wellington Streets.
Not everything in the garden is rosy. The loss of the historic Athol Hotel on Pinstone Street was unnecessary and avoidable, but it had been planned for at least two decades and proved too hard to stop, showing that municipal stubbornness dies hard. The equally unnecessary loss of the Sportsman in Cambridge Street has robbed Leah's Yard of its historic context (nearly all the buildings were erected in a single year, 1863). But there were positives, too: before speaking with Nalin we’d thought there was no hope of keeping the Bethel Primitive Methodist Chapel, nor Henry's (former Barleycorn Inn), nor the buildings on Wellington Street. So his foresight deserves recognition, as does the effectiveness of HHB and JUHS in working with him and his team in a pragmatic and constructive spirit.
And it has set a precedent. The Council by no means have the habit of early engagement, but they've done it once without catastrophe, and conversations we've had since suggest that they see its benefits. Next time you write an article on a major development, get in touch to find out whether HoC was a flash in the plan.
By the way, a quarter of a century is a serious underestimate of the length of time this particular project has been brewing. It began in the late 1950s, when the Council abandoned their idea of creating a civic zone around the Town Hall and decided that the area's regeneration would be retail-led instead, giving John Lewis a long lease on the site where their store now stands to begin the process. The pressure to knock everything down and build shiny new shops had been building for around 60 years when HoC was conceived, so it's no surprise that some assumptions where hard to shift.
Thanks for your super interesting comment as always Robin. Nalin did give me a lot more information but I had to cut it down to a reasonable length. James O’Hara and Tom Wolfenden told me that other cities were now taking an interest in what Sheffiield had done with Heart of the City so maybe it can be a blueprint going forward of how you can regenerate AND retain heritage?
This is really interesting. Thank you.
We need urban optimist pieces like this. More please!
Thanks Perry 🙏 Really glad you liked it!
The vision for smaller units is great and if you are not buying large packets then cycling into the city centre, especially on an ebike, is a consideration but there is no where safe from theives. Within all these developments and perhaps in the old John Lewis building a safe lock up for cyclists is needed. Most people with an expensive bike would be happy to pay a fee. The safe cycle parking at the station is full up and is not convenient for the city centre.
There is a secure cycle storage unit (with showers) going under the Wellington St NCP car park. The entrance will be at the back of The Furnace in Charter Square. It looks like it is nearly finished.
Great piece Dan. Fingers crossed I’m not made to look like an imbecile next year 😂
Thanks James 🙏 Glad you liked it and sorry for the delay in getting it out! Really looking forward to everything opening next year.
Yes great article and I think the City Centre is beginning to look really good. I'm excited about the Leah's Yard development. While I agree there is less demand for general retail in city centres today ( and particularly for the repetitious, characterless high street shops that are all over the country) I do think there will be high demand for smaller independent outlets selling unique stuff. Sharrowvale Road, various other street markets like Pollen, and even the new St Lukes vintage store on The Moor are all testament to the popularity of this kind of shopping as a leisure activity, surely? And the secure bike storage will certainly make a difference to how I travel into town (in nice weather anyway). But I worry about a bit about the business rates in the city centre- will they be affordable for smaller companies?
I wouldn’t lose sleep over it Jim, it’s already building up huge momentum. The focus on heritage, independence and liveability is an obvious blueprint for other cities. I agree, an excellent piece.
A really well written and researched article. I very much enjoyed reading it.
Thanks Janey!
I really enjoyed this piece and it’s great to see what’s actually there when the scaffolding and hoardings come down. I work with young people and several have mentioned Pound Park in particular as somewhere they feel safe handing out with friends and that’s an important part of any city centre.
“the dated and soon-to-be-demolished Midcity House makes it look like the Soviet Union did actually drop an atomic bomb on The Moor back in 1984 after all.“ My brain is not going to rest until I point out that the nuke was dropped on a base 20 miles outside Sheffield in the film Threads not on the actual Moor. If it had been the famous ‘Woman Who Urinates On Herself’* while stood on The Moor would have been vaporised immediately.
*IMDB give her star billing picture wise and all caps, she’s that iconic.
Thanks for your comment Fiona. And yes, I realise now that if the bomb had been dropped on the Moor itself it would have been a very short film! Our piece about Threads from two years ago is here by the way.
https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/p/the-evening-sheffield-was-blown-up
So refreshing to read an optimistic view of the city centre. Since I moved here two years ago I've felt excited about the growth of the city, and quickly grown tired of the naysaying that prevails (not exclusive to Sheffield I know...). Have always enjoyed the OHara backed businesses, The Pearl, Gatsby etc so sure the Yard will be similar quality
Thanks Farah! Maybe I’ve been a bit unfair in picking out the worst comments but the negativity is something you notice after you’ve lived here for a while. Sheffield isn’t perfect by any means but it does have a lot going for it and hopefully Heart of the City will add to that. I agree James’s venues are great — try Public if you haven’t already!
On a slight tangent, I'd like to pick up on the comment that as you get older, the stereoetype is that you move out to the country for a sedate lifestyle. My wife and I moved up from the South to be near my stepson. We aren't right in the centre, but we are in a tower block that overlooks the south-west part of Sheffield, with views out to the Peak District. We love it, partly because most of the facilities we need are all nearby, including medical facilities which tend to be more important as you get older. What's more, they're all within a level walk. I've lived in the country before, and it wasn't half so convenient - a 30-minute drive to the nearest town for a supermarket, for example. Similar for the hospital (now within walking distance). My one anxiety was that the air quality might be poorer in a city, but so far it's fine at 6 storeys up - not sure what it is at street level, but we don't spend the majority of our life there!
The bland optimism of most of the comments really makes my head ache.Do they ever talk or listen to Sheffielders outside the bubble of the Tribune? Do they ever hear the concerns of real people who regard a graffiti ridden city centre with its coterie of spice addicts-alcoholics and violence as somewhere to be avoided ? I don't know why Dan Hayes don't spend his time proclaiming this new Jerusalem.
Thanks for your comment Ron but I’m just trying to spread a little positivity! I agree there are problems in the city centre (stay tuned for a story about this soon) but I just thought Sheffield Council deserved some credit for investing in the city centre. The original Heart of the City development would have destroyed that entire area but as a result of the decisions that were made, the street plan and several of the historic buildings have been saved. Surely you accept that’s a good news story?
Sounds like you're easily pleased, Dan - I wish I could be happy with the current development because the original plan was awful! How much of the "Heart of the City" is affordable housing? How much of the new spaces will allow its visitors to do things without having to spend any money, apart from the Pound "Park"? It's nice that they put a playground there but it's really not something that unusual or special - or is the reality so grim in the UK that we are supposed to cheer because a small piece of land has been granted to the public? Have you been to Paris and have you seen how the city is making sure that there are plenty of public spaces in which citizens can do things for free - play, rest, gather, use public toilets (anybody remember these?), walk, cycle, protest, farm, garden - where are these spaces and infrastructure in this new "Heart" of Sheffield? Because what I see and read about it your article is an array of commercial spaces targetting different, wealthier demographic than the Moor.
Thanks for your comment Marta. Easily pleased is one explanation for my point of view. Another could be not wanting to be cynical and always assume everyone is acting in bad faith. In another comment you ask what have we got for the money. Well, we have major companies basing their regional headquarters in Sheffield, with all the benefits of footfall that will bring to the businesses of the city centre. We have three amazing heritage buildings brought back into use and John Lewis is now going to be renovated by the developer which did Park Hill. I happen to think those things are positive for Sheffield but people are free to disagree if they wish.
Thank you for responding, Dan. I think having high expectations of your valued local goverment and wanting better for the city you live in doesn't necessarily equal cynicism :-) Regarding major companies basing their HQ in Sheffield (what are they by the way? Are they moving to Sheffield from somewhere else?) - couldn't the city just lease the land to developers if it's such a profitable prospect with the footfall? Why did it have to be paid for with a massive loan? Great about the buildings, JL included. I just wish this project was less linked to commercialisation and more to social inclusion and quality of life for all, not just the wealthy.
For example, will there be space for the Sheffield's Foodhall that had to close down? Or just a food hall for the London transplants that you described in another "positivity spreading" article? 🥲 I would LOVE to be able to cheer for the council actions and to see proper regeneration, I'm all for it, but this project saddens me. I appreciate your writing and it's great food for thought and source of information about what's going on, but sometimes I can't help but wish you could be a bit more of a critical friend to those in power :-)
Like the curates egg -good in parts Dan
Ron, a lot of 'real people' who enjoy the city centre and spend a lot of time there working, eating, drinking and seeing events are rather tired of always reading about people complaining about the city centre when their experience is very positive. Since I've lived here the centre continues to be busier and more buzzing in daytime and nighttime activity, especially over the past year. It's entirely fair to criticise the centre on certain things that the centre doesn't have that other cities do; for me, it's a lack of large museums and galleries to always have something new to visit with family and kids and spend a rainy day wandering about. But pointing out those particular things you mention like graffiti and people on streets, which Sheffield city centre has far, far less of a problem with than other cities I've lived in or spent time in, makes it seem like you'd avoid any city centre, not just Sheffield. Apologies if I've picked up on the wrong concerns.
I need some help on the graffiti tagging front Ron. No one is reporting it to the police as criminal damage, so they can't allocate resources to identify the people responsible. Photos in the Google link :https://photos.app.goo.gl/3pCZPPDAYSnw7PJGA
More power to your elbow Bridget- firstly some home truths - the businesses who suffer from this disgraceful activity have given up in the main.They shouldnt- secondly it is another indication of the long term failing of Policing in the city.Thirdly Sheffield Bid's resources are wholly inadequate to deal with the problem.I would love to see 'Dyson' get his just deserts -via J Edgar Hoover ?- keep me posted Bridget - glad to help in any way I can- glad you and Paul are enjoying your inner city sojourn - Sheffield needs more folk like you. Ron
Yes they have given up. I go in and speak to them and ask them to report it. No one wants to spend 40 mins ringing 101. The council don't report damage to their own property and I suspect some poor soul in property services won't have time to report either and still do their day job. We need the Director of Leeds Streetscene seconded here to show Sheffield how it is done. They manage to achieve a fantastic streetscene. I see no reason why we can't do the same.
You are spot on. People call Sheffield a dump because of the graffiti and fly posting. Even the areas that are revamped like Fitzalan Square are repeatedly tagged. Everthing that is done to improve the centre is ruined with tagging and fly posting.
Do you have "Love Clean Streets" in Sheffield - it is a great app for reporting environmental issues - fly tipping - dog mess anything and everything on the streets
Thanks. We tend to use Fix My Street. Graffiti and flyposting are more complex to deal with when they are private property (businesses etc) as it isn't the council's responsibility.
When were the public consulted on what they wanted? Without the money to spend the public can’t take advantage of these developments e.g. how much was the flat? As a campaigner for publicly owned free buses £500m would transform not just Sheffield but SY & give everyone at least £1000 a year to spend. & start to get cars off the roads. We nearly achieved it in the 70’s.
Fully agree!
There was a public consultation on HOTCII. As there is for every public spend of this kind.
A proper consultation or a council style consultation
I am really impressed by what is emerging (slowly) from the scaffolding... I’ve lived in Sheffield for almost 60 years, and the decay to the city centre has long been a growing blight, but I think what Sheffield Council have created is just what we needed! Damnation to the naysayers!
High rise developments with a lack of soul and often community ? Souless coffee shops?
71 years Kevin.
How can you speak to a lack of community when they've put restrictions to prevent subletting and Airbnb usage? Are permanent residents of an apartment building not the foundation of establishing a community in the area?
Talk to me in plain English.What on earth is Airbnb usage? Always good to be on a learning curve.
Airbnb is a website which people use to advertise their properties as short-term holiday lets. In the article, it says Burgess House "has 52 flats, none of which can be sublet or used as Airbnbs". This means that all the flats' residents own their flats, reducing the number who move in and out each year, which should help build more of a community than holiday makers or rental tenants on 6-12 month contracts.
What exactly did "we" need that the developer created with the loan taken by the council?
Great article , full of optimism about the city , which is not Leeds and Manchester and never will be.Unfortunately the safety net for many vulnerable people has been taken away and this is reflected in some of the other comments . I am amazed at how many people I know have never visited Grey to Green .Love Sheffield .
We live very close to the city centre but rarely visit since John Lewis closed. We did make a trip in recently and I think it looks promising. It still feels very grim near the cathedral and the end of Fargate and Chapel Walk is tragic but the new buildings and the Moor seem brighter...but what will happen to the Debenhams building?
I try and look at it through the eyes of young people who will make more use of the hospitality than we will.
Our son (who grew up in Sheffield and now lives in York) visited with some friends recently and had a great time around Kelham Island and then the City Centre.
I visit Sharrowvale Road daily for coffee and lunch and occasionally venture as far as Eccelshall Road and Endcliffe Park 😄..there are always lot of people walking around of all ages...I feel very comfortable. It would be interesting to see an article on the health of other local shopping areas in the city.
Tim that's a very valid comment. I live in Totley and as a community library trustee speak to lots of people who never venture into the city centre now that JL and Debenhams has closed. Personally the cultural offer the city centre in my opinion is very good and is the main reason for me visiting (The Tribune and Dan Hayes does a good job of highlighting these cultural events), however the food offering is still relatively poor. Having come back from travelling around Europe, I was amazed at places like Stuggart in Germany, a similar city, industrial and multicultural. But the centre there has reinvented itself with arts, cultural, cuisine and open social spaces. The Markthalle is an impressive art nouveau listed building with everything from fresh veg to oyster and tapas bars, surrounded on the top floor by quality home and decor store - a model for what John Lewis could become (although I would prefer JL to have been turned into a major contemporary art gallery), which Stuttgart also has right at the centre of the town. Most impressively Stuttgart has a 'Sharrowvale' offer right in the centre, with lots of independent boutiques and eateries making for an eclectic and vibrant city centre. Its street sign posts are electronic and highlight when a concert is event is taking place and where and at what time! The Germans certainly know how to do efficiency well, most impressive of all were the quality of its leisure centres and swimming pools. Pond Street by comparison is a disgrace and needs some considerable investment. I no longer use the facilities there and go to Dronfield instead for netball and swimming, which is a real shame as 5 minutes on the train to Sheffield and a walk across the road is a much more environmentally friendly journey than me driving to Dronfield.
It's "Queensberry", like the Marquis. Not sure how closely they follow his rules, mind you.
Thanks Robin. Have updated now.
I loved reading this. Thank you. The comment about seeing the Peak District hills in the distance really resonated. Turning a random corner or cresting a steep street, you can suddenly see incredible, far-reaching views that lift the spirits hugely. Sheffield occupies such an amazing space. I hope that one day it will come into its own as a beautiful, interesting city that harmonises urban buzz with a thriving sense of nature.
I'm really happy that small retail units will be available but with a cost of living crisis set to last years, when will Sheffield reach peak hospitality? There's only so much money to go round and increased cafe, restaurant and bar provision risks spreading the money so thinly, failures are bound to start happening.