'Trendy' £10m Sheffield development could open by autumn

A £10 million development at the heart of Sheffield's Cultural Industries Quarter could be open by September.
How the new development should look.How the new development should look.
How the new development should look.

City Estates is working on Alsop Fields, a major refurbishment of old factories and construction of new buildings between Sidney Street and Matilda Street.

The site is a mass of scaffold and cranes, but in six months it should be a mix of apartments, studios, offices for the high-tech and creative sectors and places to eat and drink.

The site under construction.The site under construction.
The site under construction.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The aim is not just to cater for the student market, like many recent city centre developments, but to appeal to a wide range of potential tenants.

City Estates director Dale Fixter said: ““The whole area used to be known as Alsop Fields so we decided to use the name for this new mixed use development.

“It is designed to be a destination in itself - a regeneration of part of the Cultural Industries Quarter that will be similar to the trendy parts of Manchester and London.

"Instead of just student accommodation, we are creating an attractive mix of apartments and studios, places to eat and drink and offices for the high-tech and creative sectors.”

The view from Matilda Street.The view from Matilda Street.
The view from Matilda Street.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Four buildings are being redeveloped, including one to replace the former Niche nightclub, which has since reopened under the Wicker Arches in Walker Street, off Derek Dooley Way.

Two of the buildings will have internal landscaped courtyards with restaurants and cafes, aiming to replicate City Estates’ success in converting Sellers Wheel, a former Grade II listed factory in Arundel Street.

A new footpath will be created alongside the River Porter, further increasing accessibility to one of the city centre’s hidden rivers.

“The location is excellent – close to the centre of the city, a few minutes’ walk from the railway station and near Sheffield Hallam University,” said Mr Fixter.

A new footpath will be created alongside the Porter Brook.A new footpath will be created alongside the Porter Brook.
A new footpath will be created alongside the Porter Brook.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Marketing specialist Jaywing are bringing their staff to the area.

“All the amenities are nearby, and Sellers Wheel, with its hugely popular café, Tamper, has shown there is the demand for this type of development.

“We have got quite a lot of speculative interest in the commercial space, and I’m hoping we’ll have some tenants in by September.”

City Estates hopes to give each of the four buildings at Alsop Fields individual character.

Niche nightclub is demolished in May 2016.Niche nightclub is demolished in May 2016.
Niche nightclub is demolished in May 2016.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Niche Buildings will include 44 studios and apartments for students and other residents, plus two commercial units, while No 77 will have six commercial units.

In Speedwell the old Speedwell Works will be replaced by 34 apartments and studios, plus three commercial units.

The former Albert Works is the new home for Jaywing.

The development is to be finished in the summer apart from the Niche block where work is expected to finish by the end of the year.