Phase one of £65m city centre development officially launches
Phase one of a £65m development dubbed ‘Sheffield’s own version of New York’s Times Square’ was officially launched on Saturday (15 September).
New Era Square’s phase one launch gave investors, local businesses and organisations an exclusive look at the first half of the city centre project currently being delivered by New Era Development LTD.
The ‘Sheffield Chinatown’, as New Era Square has been nicknamed, has been designed to “integrate the Chinese community with the rest of Sheffield, rather than keeping it separate, and to reflect the future, rather than the past, with a modern take on the ‘Chinatown’ concept.”
The scheme is made up of apartments accommodating 686 students, exclusive 14 private residencies atop of a 21 storey tower, under croft carparking for 90 vehicles and 150 bicycles.
The tower in the Square is set to be the joint fifth tallest in Sheffield and will have a barcode hidden in the black strip façade which spells out ‘New Era’.
1,640 workers have already been inducted into the site during phase one of the build with an average of 135 workers on site per day. The initial stages of the project have generated 300,000 man hours of work with 35% of the workers travelling from less than ten miles away.
Phase two of the project is already underway and will include further student apartments, offices, a medical centre, restaurants and more retail units, adding to those already onsite.
The focus of phase two will be the China-UK Business Incubator, which will be situated within the office building in the heart of the New Era Square and aims to support both local businesses based in Sheffield and those coming from China into the UK.
Jerry Cheung, managing director of New Era Development LTD, added: “Everyone at New Era Development are thrilled with the launch. Phase One has been a long time coming; this project has been in the works since its conception in 2005 so to have reached the official half-way point is incredibly exciting.”
“Guests at the event were able to experience first hand some of the features of the New Era Square, including tours of the KH Oriental supermarket and retail units of Costa Coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts.”
Cheung added: “We’re delighted to already be underway with Phase Two of the project, and grateful for all the support we’ve had from businesses and investors during this development.
“The inclusion of the China-UK Incubator Unit should provide significant investment into the city and we hope will promote the China-UK trade in the Sheffield region as well as initiate a pro-active approach to international business trade. It has also given us the opportunity to partner with both Sheffield Hallam and Sheffield University and once complete it is set to be a great addition to the city.”
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment at Sheffield City Council, said: “New Era Square will be a stunning gateway to the city, a superb standard of accommodation and vibrancy, whilst providing a strong connection to our ongoing business activity in China and the Far East.
“The new incubator will attract businesses from China to establish a presence in Sheffield. By working with the wider business community in Sheffield to provide support, we aspire to provide the best environment for businesses looking to settle in our great city.
“The building is in a development that can be enjoyed by all of Sheffield and its public realm complements our own developments in the Heart Of The City.”
