Councillors asked to back '˜design principles' of Sheffield Retail Quarter

A final blueprint is set to be drawn up for Sheffield's long-awaited retail quarter after months of delays.
Sheffield Retail Quarter artist impressionSheffield Retail Quarter artist impression
Sheffield Retail Quarter artist impression

The finished plans can be pulled together after Sheffield councillors are asked to approve the ‘design principles’ of the shopping development.

The original outline planning application for the city centre development, submitted in August 2015, will go before the council’s planning and highways committee on August 30.

Latest images of how the proposed new retail quarter for Sheffield could look.Latest images of how the proposed new retail quarter for Sheffield could look.
Latest images of how the proposed new retail quarter for Sheffield could look.
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Normally, approval of an outline application would clear the way for a more detailed, final plan.

But because the scheme has changed in the last 12 months –including the addition of a new office block, to be the new home for HSBC – the council is now proposing to submit a second outline application once a range of design principles, such as the approach to transport and heritage, are approved.

This will avoid the need to redo months of work for the updated application.

Councillors will be asked to give a planning ‘endorsement’ on August 30.

Latest images of how the proposed new retail quarter for Sheffield could look.Latest images of how the proposed new retail quarter for Sheffield could look.
Latest images of how the proposed new retail quarter for Sheffield could look.
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Deputy leader and cabinet member for business anLeigh Bramall said: “There is now strong momentum building behind the Sheffield Retail Quarter and gaining planning endorsement next week will form an important part of that. There have been a number of positive economic developments for Sheffield over the past year. We have also had the announcement from HSBC earlier in the summer that they are looking to locate into the retail quarter and the Chinese investment deal we announced last month which will fund more projects to transform the city centre.”

A detailed planning application for phase one of the scheme, including the new office block on the site of the former Grosvenor House Hotel, is likely to be submitted in September.

The council hopes the retail quarter, originally costed at £480 million, will transform the area between Barker’s Pool, Pinstone Street and Charter Square. Earlier this year Queensberry Real Estate was appointed to lead negotiations with potential tenants, including ‘anchor’ retailer John Lewis.

The final design of the scheme will depend to some extent on the businesses developer Queensberry Real Estate can attract, but the council has repeated its pledge to bring in ‘quality’ shops.

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The retail quarter should complement the redevelopment of The Moor, which includes the Moor Market and new cinema complex.

The council will hold further public consultations as more detailed plans are drawn up. The first phase should be finished in 2019, with the remainder in late 2021/early 2022.

n The full report to committee can be seen at http://sheffielddemocracy.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s23566/SRQ%20Report.pdf