Huge conversion of former Sheffield cutlery works ‘one step closer’ after £14m boost

Developer Capital & Centric secured £10.7m from the South Yorkshire Pension Fund and £3.5m from Homes England to turn Eyewitness Works and Ceylon Works on Milton Street into flats. A six-storey building on the site of the former Brunswick Hotel is also being constructed.

The development will include 97 loft apartments and town houses, along with a café-bar. The operator for the café-bar is due to be announced shortly.

George Graham, director from South Yorkshire Pension Fund said: “We strongly believe that investing in our place can deliver new and different sources of return to help us pay pensions. The scheme being delivered by Capital & Centric shows that we can do this and help bring landmark buildings in the centre of Sheffield back into use providing much needed homes.”

The developer wants to create a 15-acre ‘Mesters’ Village’, in partnership with other developers in the area, with more than 2,500 homes, maker spaces, cafés, bars, delis and a school.

Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital & Centric said: “This funding deal just goes to show the confidence in Sheffield and in the neighbourhood we’re looking to create at Mesters’ Village.

“Eyewitness and Ceylon Works are a really important slice of Sheffield’s history so it was mega important for us to keep their original charm.”

The first registered building at the site was in 1838. For the past 150 years the Works were home to Taylor’s Eyewitness Ltd, a Sheffield-based company that provided the nation with cutlery.

Sheffield’s Old Town Hall for sale again

New home in paradise as Sheffield’s best square returns to residential

Cabinet member under investigation removed from duties

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Please take out a digital subscription or buy a paper.

Thank you. Nancy Fielder, editor