John Lewis building Sheffield: Developers given seven weeks to outline their plans

Sheffield Council is giving organisations until the end of June up to submit initial development proposals for the five-storey building in the city centre.

It has now instructed property experts CBRE to test the market and is inviting high-quality development proposals to be submitted via a two-stage process, initially seeking expressions of interest by the end of June 2022.

Since acquiring the lease of the property from John Lewis in January, the council has been busy securing the building and commissioning surveys and investigations on the site. Works to remove asbestos and strip out the building will commence in the next few months, with anticipated completion in Spring 2023.

Demolition

Whilst a recent public consultation on the future of the building showed a preference for demolishing the building and replacing it with a new, smaller building and outdoor space, the council is keen to ensure that all options are explored – including repurposing the current building.

The council is encouraging proposals for the site that will add to the vibrancy and popularity of Barker’s Pool, which is home to numerous bars and restaurants, and encourage even more people to visit and enjoy the city centre.

NEWS: These are the three options for Sheffield's John Lewis building that everyone in the city is asked to comment on

Kate Martin, Executive Director at Sheffield City Council, said: “We know how important this property is to the people of Sheffield and this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape a key city centre location. The decision on how the property and location is reimagined and its future use will be carefully considered.

“Although removing the existing building is an option, we are keen to ensure we examine all the options on the table, so we can make a fully informed decision. We plan to make the most of this rare opportunity and develop something truly special for Sheffield.

“As part of this process, we are inviting imaginative and deliverable proposals for either refurbishment or redevelopment of the property and are open to ideas around its future use. We look forward to receiving submissions of outstanding quality that will genuinely add to the vibrancy of the city centre and attract the widest possible number of Sheffield residents and visitors to the city.”

Barker’s Pool

Alex Andrews, CBRE’s UK Development Advisory Team, said: “The Barker’s Pool Building presents an exceptional opportunity for a developer to bring forward a creative solution for this prominent property, delivering a sustainable, environmentally friendly scheme, which in turn will capitalise on the growth and development already being delivered across Sheffield city centre.”

A copy of the Barker’s Pool Building marketing brochure can be requested by contacting CBRE at [email protected].

A survey in March revealed most people who responded favoured seeing the building demolished.

Some 1,500 people responded to council proposals for the city centre which included questions about what to do with the Barker’s Pool building.

The majority wanted to replace it with something smaller, the authority said, although figures were not disclosed.