Council reveals more details of plans to freshen up Sheffield's public spaces

Fitzalan Square will be redeveloped in a 5.6 million scheme.

The city council is working to freshen up various areas as part of an ongoing redevelopment plan across the city centre.

A key project is Fitzalan Square, which is often cited as a gathering place for street drinkers and a no-go zone for shoppers.

An early version of how the square could look.

The council revealed a £5.6 million plan to redesign the area earlier this year as part of the wider ‘knowledge gateway’ scheme running from the square and along Pond Street to Brown Street and Paternoster Row in the Cultural Industries Quarter.

And plans submitted this week show just what the authority hopes to do.

The main aim is to turn Fitzalan Square into a pedestrianised area, replacing the traffic island layout.

There would only be one road through the square, along the western side next to what is currently Cash Shop, and a wider junction with High Street.

Charter Square is also being redeveloped.

The four mature London Place trees would be cut down and replaced by up to 11 new trees, providing a ‘limited screen’ between the pedestrianised area and the road.

Walkers and cyclists would be directed between High Street and Arundel Gate via a redesigned Esperanto Place, opening up an area that is currently subject to littering and loitering.

In order to do this, 31 Esperanto Place - currently a takeaway - and 33/35 Arundel Gate - currently a shop - would be demolished.

The council says the work would bring many more people to the square and could help create up to 4,000 new jobs.

A planning statement attached to the new application says: “By creating a new pedestrian space for the city, it is hoped this will encourage more pedestrians to enter and remain in the square and thereby lead to the regeneration of the surrounding area.”

Fitzalan Square contains a number of grade II-listed sites including the statue of Edward VII, the White Building built in 1908 and the Head Post Office, which is now the Sheffield Institute of Arts.

Another public area undergoing a transformation is Charter Square. What was once a roundabout and subway is being replaced with a single road with public areas on either side

The area next to Debenhams is almost complete and just needs planting. But the council has now approved details for the other side, next to the new retail quarter building, which include lighting, pathways, materials and bike stands. The whole scheme should be ready in 2019.