Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter called "most exciting area of the city"

The Cultural Industries Quarter on the fringe of Sheffield city centre has been branded “the most exciting area of the city” by a company at the heart of its latest regeneration projects.

Finishing touches are being put to the £11m Gatecrasher Apartments scheme on the site of the former night club, and now commercial units at ground level are attracting other businesses to the area.

City Estates is aiming to attract uses such as shops, offices, places to eat and drink – and even doctors, dentists and opticians in line with the growing resident population.

The company has already invested millions of pounds in the area. Sellers Wheel, a grade II listed former factory in Arundel Street, has been converted into a new complex including Tamper café/restaurant, Laundry hair salon and offices.

In addition, work is starting on the redevelopment of another former industrial site. Albert Works, at the junction of Matilda Street and Sidney Street, is being transformed into a residential, commercial and leisure scheme.

Dale Fixter, City Estates managing director, said: “In our view, the CIQ is the most exciting area of the city with increasing numbers of people living in the area, both students and non-students, and also as an increasingly popular choice for a wide range of businesses.

“The letting successes at Sellers Wheel together with the very substantial pre-letting of the former Albert Works premises to Jaywing plc, a digital marketing company, will see the area develop and go from strength to strength.

“We would like to see a healthy mix of commercial uses on the Gatecrasher site that will further strengthen this buzzing part of the city.”

Five commercial units of between 1,200 sq ft and 3,500 sq ft are available, providing flexible space with planning consent for B1 office, A1 retail, A2 professional services and A3 and A4 restaurant and pub uses.

Agents CPP and BNP Paribas are instructed to market the commercial units within the scheme.

Rob Darrington, partner at agents CPP, added: “We expect a strong demand for this location, being within a couple of minutes walking distance of the city centre, Sheffield Hallam University and the railway station.”

Guy Cooke, director at BNP Paribas, commented: “We believe it could offer ideal accommodation not only for restaurants and bars and conventional shops and offices, but also potential occupiers such as doctors, dentists and opticians, which the area does not have at present, serving the thriving, immediate community.”

Gatecrasher Apartments is the latest addition to the CIQ, which stretches from Arundel Gate and Eyre Street to Paternoster Row and Shoreham Street. Part of the West One accommodation portfolio, the apartments provide 243 beds, mostly in clusters of three, four and five, along with 90 one-bed studios, ready for this year’s autumn term.

Accommodation in the complex includes wall-mounted TVs, 50mb Broadband and communal facilities such as a gymnasium, cinema room and landscaped courtyard.

The development is on the site of the former Gatecrasher – land that has been vacant since the club was destroyed by fire in June 2007.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →