John Lewis signs deal to be part of Sheffield's £470m development scheme

Progress on Sheffield’s £470m Heart of the City development scheme is forging ahead as a deal is agreed between Sheffield City Council and John Lewis and Partners.

A report on Heart of the City highlights the progress being made across the scheme with 40 per cent of the development already complete and interest from commercial and leisure occupiers gaining significant momentum.

Construction on the new Radisson Blu hotel with rooftop bar continues with completion of the works expected in Summer 2023. Preliminary work has also begun to revitalise the Gaumont Building, set to become a new leisure destination for the city, with a design that incorporates an innovative sustainable green ‘living’ wall.

Over on Pinstone Street, Isaacs Building and Burgess House are the next two major developments set to open, with both due to open in February next year – offering high-quality homes and workspace.

A deal is also close to being finalised underneath Telephone House, where the positive design changes – including the car park’s striking new cladding – are expected to result in the leasing of 15,000 sq ft to an exciting leisure tenant – opening in Spring 2022.

Plans for Leah’s Yard, which will see the creation of a local hub for creative businesses and independent retailers, were approved last month with support from Historic England. Both Leah’s Yard and Cambridge Street Collective will open in 2023.

The report also confirms that agreement has been reached with John Lewis & Partners, following their decision to permanently close the Barker’s Pool department store. The retailer will pay £5m to the council to surrender their current lease and obligations which was due to continue until 2020.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Executive Member for City Futures, Development, Culture and Regeneration, at Sheffield City Council, said: “It’s great news that an agreement has now been reached with John Lewis with no cost impact to the city.

“We now have full ownership of the Barker’s Pool building and site, and importantly, its future is now in the hands of Sheffield.

“There have been some really exciting developments on Heart of the City this year, we’re really seeing it take shape now, the vision coming together, and there’s more to come in 2022 – it’s a great time to be living, working in and visiting Sheffield.”

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