Sheffield asks for £25m to improve city centre

A bid to improve Sheffield’s high street made by Sheffield City Council and supported by the University of Sheffield has been made successful in the first round of applications.

The funding will come from the government’s £1bn Future High Streets Fund that aims to transform and regenerate high streets across England.

Following discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, Sheffield City Council and the University of Sheffield are now presenting draft proposals in order to gather support.

A survey will also be used to help build an accurate picture of how people view the city and what they wish to see included in plans for the future.

Professor Vanessa Toulmin from the University of Sheffield said: ‘The team has been very pleased to contribute to the development of the Future High Streets Fund bid.’

‘The workshops undertaken have gained insights from over 120 stakeholders.’

‘Dr. Bobby Nisha and a team of students from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning have helped to develop a virtual reality experience where residents can get the change to feel what it might be like to walk around a revived city.

Director of city-centre development for Sheffield City Council, Nalin Seneviratne said: ‘We are thrilled to be undertaking the next stage in the bidding process and we are well underway to building a strong business case to support the £25m bid.

‘We are really keen to get the public’s perspective of how people use the city centre.’

‘We want people to tell us their experiences of how they live, work, shop and enjoy the space currently so we can put forward the best case to fit the needs of future city centre users.’

‘If successful, the financial boost will help shape the future of how we use this space and to realise the ambitions of a thriving city.’

‘We are confident that the high progress we have already made to develop new vibrancy in this part of the city centre will stand us in good stead, and, if successful, the Future High Streets Fund will help us to do even more.’

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