Blades aiming for the top with Bramall Lane developments
The Blades this week submitted new plans for a residential block and club shop outside their Bramall Lane stadium.
Designed by WCEC Architects, the building would house 45 apartments and would double the size of the existing Blades Superstore.
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Hide AdThe club and co-owner Kevin McCabe’s property firm Scarborough Group are planning a series of projects to modernise the stadium and raise income for the club.
Other projects at various stages in the planning process include an eight-storey residential development next to the Copthorne Hotel, an extension to the Kop stand and a new business centre, and 52 apartments on the corner of John Street and Shoreham Street.
The club is also looking to refurbish Chaucer Yard, a former cutlery casting workshop, and build a new commercial building alongside it.
Blades director Simon McCabe heads up Scarborough Group’s property development and investment business in the UK.
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Hide AdHe believes the time is now right to invest in Bramall Lane after years of uncertainty caused by the financial crisis.
“In recent years as the Northern Powerhouse cities start to really show their power, it has given people like ourselves real incentive and encouragement to crack on and start developing our projects - particularly residential,” he said.
“In and around Bramall Lane we are very fortunate to have the footprint as large as it is. Around the stadium we have certain parcels of land we can redevelop, and can push profits back onto what happens on the pitch.”
Some plans have been around since the club was last in the Premier League in 2007. The Boundary Corner development has been redesigned from previous plans to include the club shop, and the extension to the Kop - removing the sight-blocking roof supports and creating a new covered concourse - is high on fans’ wishlists.
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Hide AdThere is also the factor of Saudi royal family member and club co-owner Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad waiting to invest once the club gets out of League One.
Mr McCabe said the residential developments could be completed without disrupting fans, but there was a desire to develop the stadium and make a ‘real 21st century facility’ for fans before, during and after matches.
“That’s something for when we are close to achieving Premier League status, or when we are there,” he added.
“It’s a great opportunity, because of Scarborough Group’s influence at Sheffield United, to look at the facilities the club has got and maximise the profits from them.
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Hide Ad“Fundamentally the profit that can be made will go to help what happens on the pitch and help Sheffield United regain its place back in the Premier League.”
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