Sevenstone

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Coordinates: 53°22′37″N 1°28′44″W / 53.377°N 1.479°W / 53.377; -1.479

Sevenstone was the marketing name of the project formerly known as the New Retail Quarter/NRQ which involved the demolition and rebuilding of an area of Sheffield, England between the Devonshire Quarter and The Moor Gateway. Sheffield City Centre has suffered from the collapse of steel making and then the opening of the Meadowhall shopping centre. The idea of the NRQ was to promote Sheffield as a regional retail destination and rival other centres including Leeds and Manchester. Located to the west of Pinstone Street, between Barkers Pool and Moorhead, the New Retail Quarter would have covered a 20-acre (8.1 ha) site in the heart of Sheffield and would involve a major re-design of this part of the city. The developer behind Sevenstone was dropped mid 2013, instead Sheffield city council is seeking new developers to progress the NRQ

Overview

The NRQ covers the relocation of John Lewis, use of the old store as a two-tiered shopping mall with covered streets and the pedestrianisation of the centre and Charter Row, whilst creating Charter Square. The development also covers improvement of the infrastructure, new shops, apartments and a multi-storey car park. The project requires demolition of several buildings such as the Grosvenor House Hotel, but will also preserve some listed buildings in the vicinity.

The £600 million New Retail Quarter, master-planned by architects BDP, would create a shopping and leisure environment in the heart of the city with a mixture of uses. 860,000 sq ft (80,000 m2) of retail space will be created, including a 269,000 sq ft (25,000 m2) John Lewis department store, designed by multi-award-winning architects O'Donnell + Tuomey,[1] a new 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) Next store[citation needed], the remainder being around 100 new shops. In addition, up to 200 residential flats, a health club and leisure facilities, and a ten-storey car park with 1,696 spaces will be provided.[2]

Burgess Street would be realigned by redirecting it down towards the bottom of Barkers Pool as opposed to its current position parallel with Cambridge Street. The new street would be provisionally named New Burgess Street. For this and other new parts of the city, architects from around the world would design a number of new buildings.

The demolition of the Wellington Street fire station took place in 2010.

Work has begun off-site. Enabling works (that is, providing the gas, water, electrical and telephone infrastructure) began in March 2006 on the roads surrounding the new site, including Division Street, Moore Street, Charter Row and others.[3]

On 12 October 2007, developers Hammerson unveiled the official marketing name for the NRQ as Sevenstone.[4] The branding was welcomed by business and political leaders in Sheffield.[5]

In March 2008, a three-day public exhibition displayed the plans for Sevenstone in Sheffield City Centre. Local press described the reactions of Sheffield citizens to the plans as 'mixed'.[6]

On 29 January 2009, the Sheffield Star reported that the project had been put on hold indefinitely, based on an interview with Creative Sheffield (the city's regeneration company) who retracted the statement the following day.[7]

On 17 June 2010, the coalition government announced the suspension of £12 million of central funding toward the project.[8] On 15 March 2011, Sheffield City Council announced that it was taking out a £10 million loan to kick-start the stalled development. The money plus a further £10 million contributed by the developers Hammerson would be used to part finance the compulsory purchase of all the empty shops and land needed to build the scheme. If the council's cabinet authorises the loan, construction of the Sevenstone scheme is expected to start in late 2013 or early 2014.[9]

In March 2012, John Lewis announced that it was no longer seeking to move from its current store into the Sevenstone development.

On 29 July 2013 it was announced that developer Hammerson had been axed by Sheffield City Council. Instead, a new developer is being sought to take on the NRQ.[10]

2013 revised scheme

Sheffield City Council provided an update in March 2013:[11]

Sheffield City Council, Hammerson plc and John Lewis Partnership remain committed to delivering on the city’s Sevenstone retail project.

The three partners have accelerated discussions by which the Sevenstone retail led project can be brought forward for delivery in Sheffield City Centre. All parties have been focused on a new scheme layout and have agreed the location of a new anchor John Lewis store.

It is anticipated that the new scheme will include up to 700,000 sq ft of retail with extensive food and entertainment venues along with a multi storey car park and high quality public realm throughout. Positive negotiations are ongoing for a revised scheme layout. It is still hoped to start on site in 2014/15.

An announcment on 10/10/2013:

"Sheffield City Council has started the formal process to end their relationship with Hammerson.

Only 10 weeks ago the Council announced that Hammerson would no longer be delivering the former Sevenstone project as the company could not commit to delivering the scheme. The Council has now dropped the agreed development with Hammerson and instead is working on an emerging New Retail Quarter project and is looking for a new developer or investor.

The Council aims to deliver a New Retail Quarter that will fundamentally improve the retail offer in the City Centre, by providing modern flexible retail spaces and attracting quality fashion retailers. This will make a significant step change and will boost Sheffield City Centre’s status back up the retail ranking index.

Today’s news cements the Authority's determination to deliver a New Retail Quarter for the people of Sheffield.

As Hammerson would not commit to delivery of the Sevenstone, it was agreed to bring the Legal Agreements to an end.

Councillor Leigh Bramall, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development at Sheffield City Council said: “We are taking decisive and clear action to deliver a New Retail Quarter for Sheffield. Today’s announcement marks the formal legal termination.

“We will bring a brand new scheme forward for the people of Sheffield. A high class regional shopping and leisure facility that would compete with other city centres such as Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham.”

On ending the Legal Agreements with Hammerson, the Council can now move forward and press ahead with key areas of work while a new development partner or investor are sought.

Sheffield City Council has already revealed that it has been approached by several potential developers and investment companies regarding the city’s emerging New Retail Quarter.

A full review of the New Retail Quarter is now underway, working with a multi-disciplined team of expert advisors.

The Council is currently working on proposals to deliver the most cost effective delivery mechanism. Options could include the creation of a Collaborative Development Vehicle (CDV). This could enable early development works to be started until a new development and investment partner is sought to either enter into joint venture arrangements or to take control of the development vehicle. A Collaborative Development Vehicle (CDV) could allow a much more controlled approach to delivery - providing flexibility and mitigating risk.

Cllr Bramall continued: “Despite the weak national economic recovery we have seen in the past three years, we have been working with other private sector partners on new developments across the city, such as the £40 million new Moor development and £45m development in Stocksbridge. There’s no reason why the New Retail Quarter can’t go ahead now.

“There is certainly confidence in the City, and interest in taking a retail development forward. We want a high quality retail offer for Sheffield City Centre to complement what is already available. Our vision is more than just the New Retail Quarter. We want a commercial centre for Sheffield and the wider City Region that can attract investment and jobs.”

The New Retail Quarter, a transformed Moor and the new Markets will give Sheffield a strong compact central shopping hub, linked high quality public spaces to boost footfall and drive commerce. High profile and innovative retail brands will be targeted alongside initiatives to encourage independents, local producers and start-ups.

Following the scheme review, the City will be ready to take the scheme back to the market place in spring 2014.

Progress is being made and the Council is on programme with a target for completion during 2018/19."

References

  1. ↑ O'Donnell + Tuomey
  2. ↑ "2,200 new car parking spaces may be created". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 2009-09-14. 
  3. ↑ Enabling Works
  4. ↑ "Sheffield's new centre named Sevenstone". RPD online. Retrieved 2007-10-16. 
  5. ↑ "Name for £500m Sheffield shops centre backed". Sheffield Star. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16. 
  6. ↑ "Welcome to Sheffield city centre 2013". Sheffield Star. 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-03-27. 
  7. ↑ "Disaster NRQ on hold indefinitely". Sheffield Star. 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-29. 
  8. ↑ "Projects axed". BBC. 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
  9. ↑ BBC News (15/3/11). Gives details of 2011 kickstart of scheme.
  10. ↑ http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/business/sevenstone-retail-developer-axed-by-sheffield-council-1-5899719
  11. ↑ https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/whats-new/march-2013/new-retail-quarter.html

External links

Sources

Official quarters
Main streets and squares
Other districts
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