New cultural hub could be built in Sheffield city centre attracting tens of thousands of visitors

Sheffield Council is hoping for millions of pounds of Government cash to revitalise the city centre amid warnings that Fargate and High Street are ‘unsustainable’ with empty buildings.

One plan is for Event Central, a hub with a year round programme of events to bring an estimated 44,800 extra visitors to the city centre annually.

Matt Hayman, principal development officer, says in a report: “Sheffield’s historic high street is central to the city’s emotional identity and economic history.

“Fargate and High Street account for one tenth of city centre retail space, with 103 retail and leisure units.

“Vacancy rates currently stand at 25 per cent above national trends, with a high risk of increasing.

“Fargate and High Street are deemed to be unsustainable in their current form. Sheffield’s retail economy is undergoing fundamental restructuring and is increasingly dependent on experience and quality of place.”

The Government’s Future High Street Fund aims to reinvigorate struggling high streets and town centres.

Sheffield is bidding for up to £20m to do the work but is in competition with 50 other areas.

The report adds: “There is an aspiration to take the city’s cultural renaissance to new levels by providing the buildings and facilities to support a year-round programme of top-quality events via a new cultural hub, Event Central.

“There is the potential acquisition of a key building currently vacant on the upper floors and used for short-term retail on the ground floor.

“It is proposed this property will become Event Central and host space for exhibitions and events management, a cafe and flexible workspace or accommodation on the upper floors.

“A plan is also being investigated with landowners to open up new front door access to upper floors in nearby buildings to enable their conversion for new uses.”

There are also plans for new seating, green areas and better lighting to highlight heritage and deter crime.