Member Article

Chamber backs Council decision on £600m Sevenstone scheme

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has given its support to Sheffield City Council’s decision to remove developer Hammerson from the proposed £600m Sevenstone retail scheme in the city.

As has been widely reported in recent days, the Council is now seeking a new partner to create the proposed 700,000 sq ft retail quarter.

The Sevenstone proposal is for a 20-acre site between the Devonshire Quarter and the Moor Gateway in the city centre of Sheffield. Plans were suspended by Hammerson due to failing retail rents during the recession.

Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, commented: “The retail development in Sheffield City Centre is an important project which will be the catalyst for economic growth in the sector. Clearly something needed to change in order for it to progress, so we support this.

“There remains a significant and urgent need to get on with the project to prevent further leakage of shoppers to outside of the city region.

“Plans for Sevenstone were initially created in 2005 and there have been many changes on the High Street since then.

“This decision will now allow the City Council and partners to revaluate what is needed to ensure Sheffield jumps ahead and stays in front of the competition from other cities, such as Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Liverpool.

“We have been very clear that the development needs to be something distinctive and right for our city and one which complements the offer at Meadowhall.

“It must be bespoke, represent quality, provide a special environment for people to visit and reflect the future world of retailing in a digital age.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .