“It doesn’t take a genius to see it’s a long way off”

Sheffield’s eagerly anticipated castle park now has no opening date after delays due to red tape.

Officials have backed away from predictions which said the £25m attraction in Castlegate would open in early - and then late 2026.

Now, Sheffield City Council says obtaining specialist planning consents has taken longer than expected.

Martin Gorman. chair of Friends of Sheffield Castle, said the park was "a long way off." | IM/Martin Gorman

placeholder image — Martin Gorman. chair of Friends of Sheffield Castle, said the park was "a long way off." | IM/Martin Gorman

The park is on the site of the former Castle Market, which was bulldozed in 2015.

In 2021 the authority won £18m from the government to turn it into a flagship park showcasing foundations of Sheffield’s medieval castle, uncovering part of the River Sheaf and creating a 500-capacity events space.

The first on-site activity - boreholes for survey work - started in July 2022.

Last year, the project had a redesign due to a wealth of archaeological finds, adding £5m to the cost.

Today, the plot is still a building site with no greenery visible.

Martin Gorman chair of Friends of Sheffield Castle, said he was frustrated.

He added: “It doesn’t take a genius to see it’s a long way off.

“I think it will look great when it’s finished but when is a big question.

“Since they started in 2021 dates have slipped. I’m pretty sure they are aiming for this time next year.

“Everyone wants to see it open but it needs to be right. I think once it’s finished it will be great - although there could be further hold ups.”

Excavations ended at least 18 months ago, he added. But every find involved Historic England and specialists in conservation, archaeology and planning.

Rubble at the site of the former markets in Sheffield. | IM

Sheffield City Council said the date for opening was subject to design and planning consents to approve the treatment of archaeology which has “proved to be more complex and lengthier than expected.”

It added: “We hope to be able to issue an update on this by early autumn.”

Sheffield Central MP Abtisam Mohamed, chair of Castlegate Partnership, said it would be a new landmark for Sheffield and it was “important we get it right.”

She added: “Of course I would like to see it open earlier and I know residents and businesses in Castlegate feel the same, but this is a nationally and historically significant site and it must be done properly.

An artist’s impression of Castlegate park, once the site of Sheffield Castle. Photo: Iconic Media | Iconic Media

“Working with archaeology means working closely with Historic England, the local planning authority and South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, and a great deal of that process sits outside the council's or the partnership board's hands.

“I look forward to the Board setting out more detail in its update this autumn, and to seeing this important project move forward.”

Peter Sephton, chair city centre residents’ association ChangingSheff said it would be worth the wait, as long as it wasn’t another National Centre for Popular Music, which closed due to low visitor numbers.

He added: “I’m frustrated, but it will be worth the wait if it provides a good visitor facility at that end of town.

“If the standard is high and the attraction is strong it could be the catalyst that leads to improvement of the area that has declined between Fargate and Waingate.”

Valerie Bayliss, chair of the Friends of the Old Town Hall, which overlooks the site, said it was “better to get the archaeology right than to rush things.”

She added: “We'll all be frustrated that there is a delay in completion but it's better to get the archaeology right than rush things.

“It would of course be best if there could be a firm date for opening the park, but that isn't wholly in the council’s hands.”