Member Article

Sky-House Co submits new application for Oughtibridge site

MAJOR plans for the revival and restoration of historic buildings on the former British Tissues site in Oughtibridge are being submitted to Sheffield City Council.

Sky-House Co has already been given approval to create 35 of its acclaimed Sky House homes - the back-to-back housing concept created by the architects at award winning Sheffield multi-disciplinary practice CODA Studios - at the former industrial site in the picturesque Don Valley.

That development will consist of 24 three bedroom Sky Houses, 6 more three bed end-terraces along with a further five four bed riverside properties.

The old Mill Cottages will also be converted into four apartments and a cottage. 

But a further application will see Sky-House Co seek permission to convert the site’s existing mill building into a mixed use food hall, community hub and leisure facility, with facilities for start up businesses too.

“The interest in this site has been enormous and we are already in talks with two operators who are very interested in the food hall development, which would bring a new dining experience to the north of Sheffield and serve what is set to become one of the city’s most ambitious residential developments,” said Sky-House Co co-founder David Cross.

“The food hall will be a fantastic community, family and social space that will be of benefit not only to the people on this site but also for the north of Sheffield as a whole.

“And having seen the success of our Krynkl development at Shalesmoor in Sheffield, we are very keen to give the same sort of support to start up businesses in this part of the city too, working with independent business to create an exciting new dynamic.

“This whole site has enormous potential and if plans to re-establish the Woodhead rail link also prove viable it this whole area will have access not just to Sheffield but to Manchester.”

Work on the Oughtibridge site is scheduled to start just as the original Sky-House development at Waverley in Rotheham is reaching completion.

“We have been back on site at Waverley following a problem with a contractor that did delay us a little and the plan is that the next 11 properties will be released to the public by the end of May, with the whole development set for completion by the end of the summer, though that might be affected by Covid-19 and the current lockdown,” said David.

The Waverley Sky-House project - with prices starting around £179,000 - is based around the already hugely acclaimed back-to-back housing model created by the architects at Sheffield’s CODA Studios.

Sky-House’s 21st century take on back-to-back housing creates sensitively dense, beautiful and naturally eco-friendly homes complete with their signature roof gardens, terraces and expansive windows. 

Outside there is courtyard parking, communal play areas and private terraces for each home owner.

Now 50 per cent sold at Waverley, there are now plans to extend the development there with another 44 Sky-House properties. A planning application will be submitted in April.

And back in the north of Sheffield, an application is being submitted to councillors for the building of seven Sky-House townhouses on the former Peggy Tub site in Stocksbridge, close to the Fox Valley retail development.

“We have been overwhelmed by the phenomenal response to Sky-House and delighted at the way the concept is now spreading throughout South Yorkshire,” said David.

“We have also been in talks with Homes England, the public body that funds new housing in England, and they are very happy to back us as we continue to bring this new generation of great design property to the market.

“We are also very thankful to Barratts and CEG for inviting us to work alongside them at Oughtibridge, without doubt one of the most special new developments in the region.

“Designed locally by the great team from CODA Studios and built by our local partners Broadfield Construct, this is a concept that brings together the very best of the region’s industry skills.

“We want to keep it local and help businesses recover from the devastating effects of the Coronavirus.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Highfield .