SRDG - City Regeneration Bid

The Sheffield Retail Development Group (SRDG) was formed during a pivotal period for Sheffield city centre, as confidence in the original Sevenstone retail scheme weakened and wider changes in retail and city-centre economics were beginning to emerge.

Our view was that Sheffield needed more than another conventional shopping development. The city centre required a broader mixed-use approach capable of creating an active urban environment throughout the day and evening, combining retail, leisure, residential, workspace, culture and public realm within a single integrated masterplan.

Working with a privately funded and locally led team, we developed an alternative regeneration proposal centred around the Sevenstone area and adjoining opportunity sites.

The proposals included a new retail core anchored around John Lewis, alongside leisure uses, office accommodation, residential development, major civic spaces and extensive public realm improvements. Concealed parking provision was incorporated beneath the principal public areas in order to prioritise the pedestrian environment at street level.

We worked closely with the local authority and the main board of John Lewis Partnership as the proposals evolved, exploring how the store could integrate into a broader mixed-use regeneration strategy for the city centre.

Our approach throughout was that Sheffield needed to evolve beyond a purely retail-led model, while recognising that John Lewis remained critically important to the city centre’s wider economic confidence and identity.

We also explored different approaches to retail servicing, storage and customer experience as online retail and changing consumer behaviour began reshaping the sector.

A key part of the wider vision was the proposed Yorkshire Conservatoire, conceived as a major cultural and educational anchor within the city centre. The conservatoire was intended to help create a more vibrant and active civic environment extending well beyond traditional shopping hours.

The project also involved internationally recognised composer and conductor Tolga Kashif, who worked with the group on proposals for the conservatoire and wider cultural elements within the regeneration strategy.

At the time, most city-centre regeneration still revolved around conventional retail models. Our approach was broader. Many of the principles underpinning the SRDG proposals — mixed-use development, residential city living, experiential destinations and culture-led regeneration — have since become mainstream components of successful urban regeneration strategies.

The project involved ongoing engagement with retailers, investors, consultants, designers, contractors and public stakeholders as the proposals developed.

The wider team included Chapman Taylor together with consultants spanning engineering, communications, retail strategy, planning and finance. The group was chaired by John Crowther, former Chief Executive of Vickers Defence Systems and later Chief Executive of the Lawn Tennis Association.

Due to changes in the local authority's procurement methodology the 650,000 sq.ft. scheme was never progressed to its projected 2019 completion. SRDG demonstrated that there was both appetite and capability for an alternative approach to Sheffield city centre regeneration at a time of significant change for the retail sector and city centres more generally.

SRDG brought together regeneration strategy, stakeholder coordination and multidisciplinary teams around a complex city-centre opportunity during a period of major structural change.

Key Facts

Project Status: Strategic City Centre Regeneration Proposal

Location: Sheffield City Centre

Our Role: Project Origination, Strategy, Stakeholder Coordination & Regeneration Leadership

Project Type: Mixed-Use City Centre Regeneration

Proposed Uses:
Retail
Leisure
Residential
Office
Public Realm
Cultural & Educational Facilities

Key Components:
Retention of John Lewis as Anchor Retailer
Proposed Yorkshire Conservatoire
Major Civic Plaza
Integrated Public Realm
Concealed City Centre Parking

Project Team Included:
Chapman Taylor
Capita
KPMG
HR Media
Central Retail

Chair: John Crowther

Cultural Strategy: Tolga Kashif

Funding: Privately Funded Initiative with International Banking Support