Plans unveiled for ‘iconic’ 6,000 square metre park in Sheffield city centre

A new park could be created in Sheffield city centre after plans were unveiled to create a ‘landmark’ 6,000 square metre green space.
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Pound’s Park – named after Sheffield’s first chief fire officer, Superintendent John Charles Pound – could open in spring 2022 on the former fire station site between Rockingham Street, Wellington Street and Carver Street if the proposals are given the go ahead.

The plans include a cafe/bar terrace as well as a water play area, office space and an ‘urban orchard’.

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A public consultation running until March 24 is set to begin this week so people can have their say on the proposals before an application is submitted to Sheffield City Council with a view to work starting in August.

Pound’s Park would be located on the former fire station site between Rockingham Street, Wellington Street and Carver Street.Pound’s Park would be located on the former fire station site between Rockingham Street, Wellington Street and Carver Street.
Pound’s Park would be located on the former fire station site between Rockingham Street, Wellington Street and Carver Street.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment, said: “Pound’s Park will be a beautifully designed public space of real quality – one of the most significant city centre parks in the country.

"It will provide a new focal point for families, prioritise walking and cycling over cars, and help improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of city centre visitors, workers and residents.”

The project is the latest part of the Heart of the City redevelopment to transform Sheffield city centre and is partly funded by the Getting Building Fund and the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.

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The park would also provide a short and ‘highly accessible’ shortcut between the planned new area of bus stops on Rockingham Street and the wider city centre.

The former Sheffield Central fire station.The former Sheffield Central fire station.
The former Sheffield Central fire station.

A straight walk of about 200 steps will take people from the bus stops to the back of John Lewis.

Additionally, the area on and around Rockingham Street would be transformed into a safe and well-lit space as part of the plans to encourage footfall and activity into the evening.

Councillor Julie Grocutt, cabinet member for transport and development at Sheffield City Council said: “Our plans are ambitious and will reinvent the expectations of a city park, with a special focus on incorporating a multitude of experiences for playing, relaxation and socialising.”

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“Trees and planting will remain a key feature, being used extensively to provide colour and seasonal interest, increase biodiversity, and provide sustainable management of rainwater."

A ‘large cycle hub’ is planned at the southern side of Pound’s Park as part of the modernisation of the Wellington Street car park at Telephone House but is not part of this application.

The new park will also provide a new home for the William Mitchell frieze, which was removed from Burgess House last year in preparation for the construction of the new Radisson Blu hotel on Pinstone Street.

The former Sheffield Central Fire Station was originally earmarked for a multi-storey car park, hotel and over 150,000 sq ft of office space before a change of heart from the local authority.

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A spokesperson said the focus is now on creating ‘a large urban park that closely aligns to the city’s evolving sustainable transport and environmental ambitions, alongside two new smaller development plots.’

The Council will be inviting interest later this year from private developers to take forward the two smaller development plots – located on the north and south boundaries of the site.

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