“Big projects take time”

Up to 12 businesses are interested in taking space in Sheffield’s former John Lewis store.

Commercial agent Tim Bottrill, of Colloco, said he was talking to food and drink, health and wellbeing, community and big office occupiers.

The old John Lewis and Cole Brothers department store on Barker's Pool has been empty for five years. Developer Urban Splash was in March granted permission to turn it into cafes, shops and offices. | Urban Splash

placeholder image — The old John Lewis and Cole Brothers department store on Barker's Pool has been empty for five years. Developer Urban Splash was in March granted permission to turn it into cafes, shops and offices. | Urban Splash

The department store in Barker’s Pool closed in 2021. Sheffield City Council sold it to developer Urban Splash in 2024.

The firm received planning permission for new uses in March.

Mr Bottrill said the lack of confirmed tenants was normal and “no cause for alarm.”

He added: “Big projects take time and occupiers need to be legally committed before they make a public announcement. We are not at that stage yet but it is all positive.”

Messages on the doors of John Lewis after it closed in 2021. | IM

Interested parties included national and local companies. The office element could house up to 1,000 people, he added.

Urban Splash has reverted to calling it Cole Brothers, the historic Sheffield store which rebranded to John Lewis in 2022.

Keep your finger on the pulse with our daily newsletter, covering breaking news stories and all of the biggest headlines from Sheffield and South Yorkshire

An Urban Splash spokesperson said they were “making good progress” behind the scenes.

They added: “We are busy working on designs and with our agents Smith Young, Starka and Sheffield-based commercial adviser Colloco who are in discussions with potential occupiers.

How Cole Brothers might look inside. Images by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris for Urban Splash.

"In the meantime, we're proud to have brought the building back into active use for the community this year. Hundreds of local people and visitors have been back inside the space, enjoying a busy events programme that has so far included BBC Sounds at the Crossed Wires Festival, the Transplant Games, a DJ set from Jarvis Cocker, and the FORM careers fair.

"Coles will be back in use again next week as Sensoria returns from 22 October for the four-day In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats event, an interactive VR experience.

"We also continue to work on another Sheffield icon, bringing forward 125 new homes in the fourth phase of Park Hill, where site works are progressing well and reservations are already strong."

Cole Brothers was Grade II listed by Historic England in 2022.