Client
Urbo Regeneration Ltd / Peveril Securities / Legal & General
Overview
Location. Sheffield
Value. £300 million
Size. 1.5 million sqft
Service: Masterplanning & Architecture
Programme. 2011 – Ongoing
West Bar is identified in Sheffield’s City Centre masterplan as the preferred site for large scale inward investment in the city. It forms part of the Northern edge of Sheffield City Centre and is well positioned for access into the City and beyond. Set within the Riverside Business District, the site is within a 5-minute walk of the Cathedral Quarter and the City’s prime shopping and restaurants. Immediately to the north is Kelham Island, Sheffield’s historic industrial centre which is now home to many independent businesses, shops, bars, restaurants and housing set within it’s regenerated buildings.
We have been retained since 2011 to prepare a mixed-use masterplan with a flexible framework, responsive to the specific requirements of potential occupiers, residents and market demands. The outline planning application for circa 1.5million sqft of total development was approved in February 2017.
Flexibility of use is controlled through a series of parameter plans which allows for hotel, residential, retail, restaurant and amenity/community uses to be integrated with the primary office functions. The West Bar Square masterplan which supports the planning application is founded on sound place-making and commercial design principles aimed at creating a vibrant, sustainable new destination with high critical mass.
The proposals comprise a variety of building scales, up to and including a 19-storey residential building to the north and a 13-storey building to the south-west creating landmarks at key gateways to the site. At the centre of the masterplan is West Bar Square – a new 1,000 sqm public space activated by commercial building front doors and the primary A1-A3 uses of the development. A residential quarter is located to the Northern end of the site arranged around a secondary public space named Soho Yard. A network of streets integrate with the existing city structure to connect the development to the neighbouring Riverside Business Quarter, the historic Kelham Island and the City Centre.
We have recently been instructed to take forward the first 4 buildings on the site comprising the 368 residential Build to Rent apartments, two HQ offices of 100,000 sqft and a 450 space multi-storey car park all of which have secured funding from Legal and General.
Developer website: westbar.co.uk
2002
Regeneration Framework
In 2002 Sheffield City Council approved a regeneration framework as part of the development of proposals for the Inner Relief Route (IRR).
2004
Development Framework
In May 2004 approval was given to the preparation of a marketing brief for the West Bar Development Area to secure a development partner.
2006
SCC Development Brief
In 2006 SCC formally launched the development brief for the site to secure a developer partner.
2007 – 2010
Castlemore Scheme
Castlemore were selected as the preferred partner. A mastaerplan and outline planning was prepared led by Jan Gehl and URBED..
2011 – 2015
Testing the Masterplan
Following Castlemore falling into administration URBO was selected as a new development partner and an alternative, lower rise, business led masterplan was developed
2015
Pre-Application and Occupier Engagement
By 2015 proposals had advanced to a point where a new outline planning approval was possible and pre-application discussions commenced with the City Council’s urban design and planning team
2016
Public Consultation
A day public consultation was held along with a review with Sheffield’s design panel. Following which the outline planning application was submitted.
2017
Outline Planning Approval
2018
Feasibility Options for Individual Sites
Feasibilities were undertaken for key sites across the masterplan including the BTR residential and No 01 West Bar Square office building.
2019
CPO Completion
The summer of 2019 saw the formal conclusion of the CPO process and bringing together of the entire site into a single control.
2021
Reserved Matters Planning Applications and Site Clearance
2021
Onwards
Delivery of buildings and new public realm
in a phased manner
Related
