A Briefing Pack for Elected Members and Stakeholders

May 2015

IntroducingSheffield

Our Shops, Our Streets, Our Sheffield

working with:Retail Quarter

IntroductionThis Briefing Pack has been produced by Sheffield City Council to provide an overview of exciting and innovative proposals to create a sustainable and vibrant Retail Quarter in the heart of Sheffield city centre.

The proposed £480 million scheme, designed by Leonard Design Architects, comprises approximately 900,000 sq. ft. of mixed use accommodation. The new scheme is predominantly focussed on retail and leisure but also includes over 200,000 sq. ft. dedicated to residential and office space.

The Briefing Pack also describes the comprehensive and robust consultation that will provide stakeholders and communities with the opportunity to comment on the proposals. The Council is committed to open and genuine consultation to ensure that everyone who lives in, works in or visits the city has an opportunity to find out more and have their say.

After the consultation, the Council will submit an outline planning application to be considered by the Local Planning Authority. Well-understood and transparent processes and rules are in place to ensure that the Regulatory Planning Officers and Planning Committee, who will be assessing the application, remain independent of those officers or consultants submitting the planning application.

In parallel to preparing and submitting a robust planning application, the Council is running a procurement process to select a Strategic Development Partner who will work with the Council to deliver this scheme. This procurement process will take approximately six months with an announcement expected in early 2016.

The target is to complete 80% of the scheme during 2019. The final phases are scheduled to be completed by 2021.

Sheffield’s Retail QuarterSheffield has a proud history. A popular and attractive Retail Quarter in our city centre will create new jobs, attract new visitors and provide everyone with new choices about where they shop, eat out or spend their leisure time.

A. New Shops, New StreetsThe proposals are focussed on the areas around Barker’s Pool, Pinstone Street and Moorhead. The design merges with Sheffield’s award winning public realm and world-renowned cultural assets – including The Crucible and The Lyceum theatres – and unites key retail areas in the city centre from The Moor through to Fargate. The plan on the following page shows the proposed layout of streets that would come together in a new public square bordered by a new anchor store and other prominent retailers. The key design features include:

Extending the popular shopping destination of Fargate.

Creating stronger links from the Peace Gardens across Pinstone Street.

Strengthening links with the established shopping area and new development at The Moor.

Why are these proposals so important?

For decades now Sheffield city centre has experienced rising retail vacancy, falling retail sales and lack of investment. This was principally due to a shortage of new retail space in the city that was configured to meet the changing needs of modern retailers.

A growing Sheffield demands a modern environment for retailers. Currently, demand for good quality, modern retail space outstrips supply in the city centre. Many of the UK’s largest retail brands, such as H&M, Next, New Look and Topshop, trade from stores that are over 60% smaller than their average sized stores in UK cities with similar populations to Sheffield. We know that retailers are waiting for Sheffield’s Retail Quarter to be developed so that they can have modern, prime and well-configured stores.

Online spend also now accounts for 15% of total retail spend in and around Sheffield. Sheffield Retail Quarter

Section 1

will be a future-proof scheme designed to account for this new retail environment where more people choose to ‘click and collect’ by buying online and picking up their goods in-store.

Attracting new and larger retailers provides a number of benefits. More visitors are attracted to the city centre, meaning more money is spent in the local economy. This benefits all businesses and helps to create jobs. More occupied retail space will also generate more income through business rates. More money can then be raised to fund improvements to the city centre, including enhancing our public spaces.

Bringing this development forward is a strategic priority for Sheffield City Council, supported by the universities, civic and cultural institutions and businesses, as well as existing and potential city centre retailers.

Creating space for independent stores to flourish

Sheffield’s Retail Quarter is not just about attracting national and international retailers. Our independent shops and businesses also have a huge amount to offer and will play an important role in a more vibrant city centre. The proposals are not about increasing competition that crowds out independent retailers but rather about attracting more shoppers and visitors to the city centre.

Detailed calculations undertaken by the Council’s advisors show that the proposed Retail Quarter will bring in approximately an additional £300 million per year to the whole of Sheffield city centre, which people currently spend elsewhere. The Council is clear that money is better spent in our city centre, thus benefitting all businesses.

Furnival Gate

Peace Gardens

Surrey Street

Sheffield City Hall

Pinstone Street

Fargate

Charter Row

A new generation department store with parking. This store will front onto a new, pedestrianised

Charter Square.

A new multi-storey car park on Rockingham

Street.

A focus on making the whole area more

accessible and pedestrian-friendly.

The Moor

The extension of Fargate, Sheffield’s premier shopping street, attracting new and larger retailers.

Stronger links to other areas in the city, including The

Moor, Devonshire Green and the Peace Gardens.

New restaurants and cafés that will be

popular during the day and into the evening.

New public spaces of exceptional quality, inspired by the Peak District.

KeyRetail

Retail

Restaurant/bar

Public spaces

SRQ red line boundary

A focus on protecting historic building façades, including those along Pinstone Street, the old Sunday School on Cambridge Street and the

restoration of the Grade 2* Listed Leah’s Yard.

A mix of new office and residential accommodation on the upper floors

of the building – bringing more people and life to the area.

B. Creating Vibrancy Through Mixed UsesAlongside the correct focus on enhancing the city centre’s retail offer, the proposals also encourage other uses. The Council wants to support a city centre that is an exciting and interesting place to visit for everyone. As shown in the plan, the proposals also include the delivery of:

New city centre homes. The proposals for new residential accommodation are at their early stages. The residential strategy for this area of the city will focus on 1-2 bedroom apartments but also potentially larger properties that will provide comfortable homes for families.

Centrally located offices. A key emphasis of Sheffield City Region’s growth plans is to create new jobs in the professional services. Equally important, the city is committed to creating an environment that supports start-up and smaller companies. New office accommodation in the city will support these important priorities.

The office and residential elements of the proposals are about guaranteeing that Sheffield’s Retail Quarter contributes to a vibrant and dynamic city centre environment that hosts workers, city dwellers, as well as shoppers.

The Outline Plan For Sheffield’s Retail Quarter

E. Reinforcing Key LinkagesClose-knit communities and areas that offer different features define Sheffield. Sheffield’s Retail Quarter sits at the centre of our city and provides an ideal opportunity to strengthen and reinforce key linkages with other areas – ultimately consolidating the city centre into a cohesive design that is easy to navigate. Key design features include ensuring:

Division Street, popular with independent and boutique retailers, connects well with the Retail Quarter.

There is a stronger link between the Retail Quarter and those very popular locations around the Peace Gardens, Winter Gardens and Tudor Square.

Critically, our proposal will unite the key retail pitches in the city centre from The Moor, through to Fargate. This approach will consolidate and cement an enhanced retail offer and provide for food and beverage, office space and residential uses. This mix of uses will increase the attraction of the city as an option for family-friendly evening entertainment.

D. Introducing New Public Spaces for People to EnjoySheffield is famous for its world-class public spaces which local people and visitors can enjoy. The design ethos behind the proposals for the public realm in and around Sheffield’s Retail Quarter is to use materials that reflect the geological features of the Peak District, including considering the textures and distinctiveness of the Milestone Edges that surround our city at Stanage, Burbage, Derwent, Froggat and Curbar.

The proposals themselves include:

Creating a new public square outside a new anchor department store.

Creating a new Fargate that extends up the hill past Barker’s Pool.

Creating new and attractive pedestrian routes along and around Pinstone Street and Burgess Place.

The focus of the proposals is to deliver designs that:

Utilise quality materials.

Showcase craftsmanship.

Include integrated features such as seating.

Reflect a close attention to detail.

Public realm inspiration sketch

C. Ensuring Access and ConnectivityA key priority of the Retail Quarter plans is to ensure that good and strong linkages exist across the city centre and that people can access the city centre quickly and conveniently. All modes of transport are catered for by the proposals.

The proposals include enhancing key walking routes through the city, not least by extending Fargate and creating stronger links from the Peace Gardens.

Cycling remains important as Sheffield looks to build on the legacy of the Tour de France in 2014. The proposals include space for cycle routes and secure cycle parking. All of this infrastructure will support existing cycling facilities, including the cycling hub most recently introduced at the city’s Sheffield station.

Public transport remains a critical element of the city’s future. Providing people with quick and convenient transport options, including the bus and tram is critical, not least for those people who do not have access to a private car. The proposals include a range of options to develop bus routes that will service Sheffield’s Retail Quarter. During this consultation the Council will be working with partners across the city, including the bus operators and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive to consider these options in more detail. The detailed options will be subject to more detailed public consultation at a later date.

Sheffield’s Retail Quarter will be brought forward through a partnership headed by Sheffield City Council but comprised of organisations from across the city and private investors who also bring world-class capabilities and private funding.

Section 2 Partnership

A. The Role of the CouncilOne of the most important roles a Council can play is encouraging economic development. Economic development, such as Sheffield’s Retail Quarter, creates new jobs and helps increase funding for local services. In particular:

Sheffield Retail Quarter is expected to create around 2,500 construction jobs and new permanent jobs in the city centre.

The Council owns the land in the city centre so can generate revenues by acting as a landlord.

All of the money the Council spends now it would get back when the new Retail Quarter is constructed.

All of this means that the Council is in a strong position to drive this scheme forward, having confirmed its commitment to make a significant investment in Sheffield’s Retail Quarter of over £60m. The Council does face pressures on its budget but the money being spent on developing these plans is not being taken from other areas that fund council services. This project is about the Council taking the lead to support our economy and strengthen our city.

B. The Strength of our CityDelivering this project is beyond any single institution. Critical to delivering these proposals will be partnership across the public and private sectors, reaching beyond institutional boundaries.

The Council is working closely with business, the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, and a range of other bodies and agencies focused on bringing vibrancy to Sheffield.

Our Business Improvement Districts in the Lower Don Valley, and the forthcoming one in the City Centre, demonstrate the importance of partnership to achieve our goals.

C. Selecting the Right PartnerSheffield’s Retail Quarter continues to require investment and expertise that can only be provided by the private sector. In December 2014, the Council published a notification seeking Expressions of Interest from developers and investors keen to work with the Council to deliver Sheffield Retail Quarter. The Council has previously and continues to receive considerable interest from developers and funders keen to play a role in delivering Sheffield’s Retail Quarter.

The procurement of a development partner will move forward during 2015 and a developer will be announced in early 2016.

The Council’s procurement strategy is absolutely clear. The selected developer must have the proven experience, skills and financial capabilities to make a sustainable investment in our city and to deliver the development with the Council quickly and efficiently.Project Timeline

Select Private Developer to Work With Early 2016

Outline Planning Application Submitted

Summer 2015

Public ConsultationMay/June

Finalised Design and Submission of Reserved Matters Applications

End 2016

Construction Begins

Early 2017

Phase 1New Stores

Open Autumn 2019

2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 2 0 / 2 1

Phase 2 New Stores Open

End 2021

Consultation leaflet distribution area (courtesy of Google Earth).

Briefing Pack Copies of this Briefing Pack will be distributed to Members of Parliament representing local constituencies and local Sheffield councillors. Copies will also be distributed to over 200 stakeholders identified in a stakeholder mapping process, including members of the business community and other local stakeholders such as local residents’ groups.

Consultation LeafletsConsultation leaflets will be distributed to all residential and business properties located within the Sheffield City Ring Road. The leaflet provides information about the proposals, opportunities for members of the public to provide feedback and information on where people can ask questions. The extent of the distribution area for this leaflet is on the previous page.

Community Access PointsCommunity Access Points (CAP sites) are local shops, amenities and other key locations where the public can easily obtain copies of the consultation leaflet. CAP sites are particularly useful in enabling workers, residents and road users who live outside of the leaflet distribution area to pick up a consultation leaflet.

During the public consultation, 75 CAP sites will be set up, mostly in the communities around the city centre. Each site will be asked to display a poster or window sticker to let people know they can pick up a leaflet inside. All CAP sites will be listed on our consultation website.

Consultation WebsiteA dedicated website (www.sheffieldretailquarter.com) will be launched on 18 May 2015 providing information about the proposed redevelopment and all associated consultation activities. Visitors to the website will be presented with clear information about the proposed Sheffield Retail Quarter and encouraged to complete an online response form. Site users will also be able to email their consultation responses to a dedicated email address (info@sheffieldretailquarter.com) or register for updates.

Telephone Information LineA dedicated information line (0800 731 5515) will be opened on 18 May 2015 to answer all calls about Sheffield’s Retail Quarter. This line will operate from 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday) with an answer phone facility to take calls outside these hours. Members of the consultation team managing the information line are able to provide up-to-date information or answer questions about the scheme or the consultation.

Section 3 Seeking FeedbackOur city is at its strongest when organisations and communities come together. This Briefing Pack has been produced and distributed at the start of a wide-ranging public consultation to seek feedback on these important proposals.

A. Listening to Local ViewsThe Council is committed to engaging openly with key stakeholders, local residents, businesses and people who visit Sheffield. At this initial stage, prior to the submission of a planning application, we want to inform stakeholders and local people about our proposals and give them the opportunity to contribute to the finalisation of the outline plans for Sheffield’s Retail Quarter.

All of our engagement activities will be guided by the following key principles:

We will be open and honest when presenting information.

We will ensure that all public engagement materials can be easily accessed by local stakeholders and the wider general public.

We will be clear and ‘plain speaking’, avoiding jargon or technical terms where possible.

We will ensure all comments and feedback received during the consultation are considered as Sheffield’s Retail Quarter is developed further.

B. Consultation ProgrammeOn 18 May 2015, we will launch an extensive stakeholder and public consultation programme about the proposed Sheffield Retail Quarter. This consultation will run for five weeks until 19 June 2015.

Wednesday 3 June: 11am to 6pm Thursday 4 June: 11am to 6pm Friday 5 June: 11am to 6pm Saturday 6 June: 11am to 5pm

To engage with key stakeholders and local communities we will use a number of different techniques:

Public ExhibitionA public exhibition will provide stakeholders and members of the public with the

opportunity to discuss the proposals with key members of the Project Team. The exhibition will take place outside the Town Hall in the city centre on the following dates.

The consultation is scheduled to end on 19 June 2015. All feedback received during the consultation will be considered on an ongoing basis by the Project Team and suggestions will be incorporated into the finalisation of the scheme where possible.

What Happens Next?

Call: 0800 731 5515

Email: info@sheffieldretailquarter.com

Visit: www.sheffieldretailquarter.com

Contact Details

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To find out more or to contact the consultation team for Sheffield’s Retail Quarter you can: