City could become home to Yorkshire’s tallest building

Sheffield city centre could soon be the location of Yorkshire’s tallest building after an ambitious, £100m planning application was submitted.

CODE Co-Living has put forward plans to build a development comprising three buildings, one of 12 storeys, a second of 16 storeys, with the tallest element reaching 36 storeys.

At almost 117 metres tall, the main tower would be higher than a 114-metre tall student scheme currently under construction in Leeds – which is set to be the county’s tallest – and would be a full 16 metres higher than Sheffield’s current title holder.

The development would be co-living, providing 1,370 private studio apartments for rent, available for both students and non-students.

Substantial communal spaces would also be incorporated in the building, including dining and café facilities, a 50-piece gymnasium, cinema room, private study spaces and a large first floor south-facing outdoor roof terrace.

The property will be operated on a build-to-rent basis, owned and operated by the developer, CODE, for the long-term, with a focus on maintaining the ongoing quality and management of the development. There will also be a 24-hour concierge on site.

CODE is committing to provide 10% of the apartments as affordable homes. This means 137 of the apartments will be offered at affordable rent for non-students – more than the number of affordable homes delivered across the entire city in 2018.

Affordable-housing tenants will have equal access to all the facilities within the development.

The scheme would be on a prominent site to the side of the Vita building, just off Charter Row and close to The Light Cinema complex. The land was previously occupied by South Yorkshire Housing and a Dexel car repair yard.

CODE says the development would improve the environment of a neglected corner of the city centre and deliver a huge injection of vibrancy and activity to Charter Square, The Moor and Heart of the City II.

There is a focus on sustainable travel with no spaces to be provided for parking. Instead, the development will feature spaces to securely store 500 bicycles. The entire scheme will be powered by electricity purchased through a 100% renewable energy tariff.

Jamie Lewis, of CODE, said: “We have been looking for a site in Sheffield for several years. From the outside, it is clear that the city is going places with Heart of the City II and developments on The Moor transforming the city centre. We want to be a part of this.

“We have worked hard with the planning department to bring forward a high-quality design. We’ve conducted wind analyses and have amended our proposals significantly to meet the requirements of planners, who we’ve worked with constructively.

“We also recognise our social responsibility. Our commitment to affordable housing will ensure people from across the city’s communities have the chance to access the jobs and opportunities that the new, dynamic city centre increasingly provides.

“If approved, we won’t hang around. We are keen to get on site and deliver. This won’t be an ambitious application that never leaves the drawing board. Cranes will be on site as soon as possible, probably within months.”

It is hoped that the planning application will be decided before Christmas. If approved, Code hopes to be on site in spring 2020.