Up to 20,000 new homes are set to be built in an effort to convert Sheffield city centre into a residential neighbourhood and a ‘cultural hub’.

The City Council announced in a meeting last week (14 February) Fargate and the traditional shopping areas will home schools, GP surgeries and outdoor spaces.

The work set out by the City Centre Strategic Vision is set to begin in January 2025. The hub would then open in early 2026, two years later than initially planned.

Councillor Ben Miskell, chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “We are creating liveable neighbourhoods where we can completely rejuvenate and bring back to life our city centre.

“Repopulation in our city centre is part of a wider strategy to get more people into the city centre to reduce anti-social behaviour and to open up more bars and more coffee shops, and to make it a better space for everyone in the city.” 

The development of the 20-26 Fargate plan was delayed due to cost pressure and construction constraint, forcing the project to begin in 2025 at the earliest. The area which is set to be renovated is now being reviewed by the design team.

Cllr Miskell said: “There are always going to be delays in big regeneration projects across the city. As a city, we have to be comfortable with that. Sometimes things do take longer than we would hope, but it still is a sign that will be generating the city centre.”

The council also claimed designed work on High Street and Castle Square are currently under review due to cost pressures.

“Our previous prime minister crashed the economy,” said Cllr Miskell. “As a City Council, we are experiencing the exact same cost pressures, projects that we want plans to cost and a certain amount of money have now increased.

“We are left to pick up the pieces just like homeowners, like people across our city are struggling to pay the bills as well.”