£85m has been announced for four ‘stalled sites’ in South Yorkshire

A huge empty plot at Sheffield station - empty for 19 years - is set to be redeveloped after the government announced £20m funding.

The cash, for ‘stalled sites’, will see offices built on Sheaf Square within five years, according to owner Homes England.

The plot was once earmarked for Channel 4 headquarters and then HS2 but has been unused for 19 years.

£20m from government is set to finally kick-start development on Sheaf Square, owned by Homes England. | IM

placeholder image — £20m from government is set to finally kick-start development on Sheaf Square, owned by Homes England. | IM

More recently, Homes England has resisted calls to use it for parking.

Now it is seeking, a development partner for a project that will kick-start ‘Station Campus’, a plan for 767 homes, offices, commercial space and a huge bridge for cyclists and walkers to Park Hill.

The funding was announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of £85m for four projects in South Yorkshire including Moorfoot, Parkgate in Rotherham and the Don Valley Corridor.

Image of office at Sheaf Square outside the entrance to Sheffield Station. | Homes England

It will be administered by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Oliver Coppard, mayor of South Yorkshire, said the money would unlock sites “held back for too long.”

He added: “This is about opening up opportunity on our doorsteps - so everyone in South Yorkshire has the chance to stay near and go far.”

City Ward Green councillor, Douglas Johnson, said the funding was a vote of confidence in Sheffield and would help leverage private sector investment.

View of 10 new buildings and bridge within Sheffield Station Campus being promoted by Homes and England and Sheffield City Council. | Homes England

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And he supported redeveloping a city centre brownfield site which would put people close to public transport.

He added: “It’s really important to make the most of that connectivity. We’ve also got to make sure the quality of the accommodation is exactly what we want and not small, sub-standard flats.”

Some 10 per cent of the housing is set to be ‘affordable’ according to a Homes England prospectus.

Station Campus is set to feature up to 10 buildings on Suffolk Road and Turner, Cross Turner and Fornham streets.