City centre to benefit from £67m regeneration boost

The Government’s Secretary of State for Levelling Up has unveiled a £67m funding package to create two new residential neighbourhoods in Sheffield city centre.

Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, has agreed the funding to support creation of two new communities at Furnace Hill and Neepsend, as confirmed by Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, at the Convention of the North conference.

The cash will support vital land assembly and enabling works across five hectares of brownfield and underutilised land, enabling new homes and commercial space to be built, as part of wider regeneration activity.

Peter Denton, chief executive of Homes England, said: “This funding will kickstart the transformation of Furnace Hill and Neepsend, paving the way for 1,300 new homes and 4,000 sq m of commercial space, and ultimately, the creation of two new vibrant communities for the people of Sheffield to enjoy.

“A core part of our remit is to utilise all the tools at our disposal to help places to achieve their vision for their area.

“Our work with Sheffield City Council over the last two years is a prime example of what this looks like in practice.”

The proposals to transform Furnace Hill and Neepsend have been spearheaded by the Sheffield Together Housing Growth Board, which includes Sheffield City Council, Homes England, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the Sheffield Property Association and the South Yorkshire Housing Partnership.

Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, said: “We have just signed a Strategic Place Partnership between Homes England and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

“This very welcome Government announcement of support in Sheffield will help us build early momentum with our business planning to support housing growth and regeneration across the wider South Yorkshire area.”

Councillor Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “This major investment will help to create two new city centre neighbourhoods on brownfield land.

“It will help to breathe new life into Furnace Hill and Neepsend and create great neighbourhoods with 1,300 new homes.”

Furnace Hill will provide a broad residential offer alongside new local facilities, commercial and leisure space to support a diverse community.

It will also celebrate its industrial heritage by creating a new public realm with the Cementation Furnace at its core.

Meanwhile, the historic fabric of Neepsend will be renewed, providing a range of housing, local amenities and green public spaces, with an emphasis on attracting families to the core of the city.

Cllr Hunt added: “Importantly, we have also put down a marker for support from the next round of the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme, to ensure a minimum of 20% of these new homes is truly affordable accommodation which is within the reach of everyone.

“Sheffield is a city on the up and we have big plans for further new neighbourhoods.”