Mace's development plans for University of Sheffield approved
The University of Sheffield is due for a new development, after the plans of consulting firm Mace were approved by the City Council. The new structure will be used for a mixture of residential and student purposes.
Mace has been involved in a succession of high profile projects in the past two years. Most latterly, this saw the firm appointed to construct the University of Sussex’s new Life Sciences facility at the institution’s Falmer campus near Brighton, as part of the university’s £500 million expansion programme.
Now, Mace will oversee the construction of a major complex for the University of Sheffield, following approval from the city’s council. Meeting in mid-August, Sheffield City Council gave the green light for Mace’s plans for a mixed-use residential and student development on Hoyle Street in the centre of Sheffield. The plans also included design work by Jefferson Sheard Architects, working from their own Sheffield office, while consultancy CBRE advised Mace on planning.
The proposed development will see a neglected part of Sheffield’s industrial heritage brought to the fore, making the iconic Grade II listed cementation furnace on the site the focal point of the development. In walking distance to the City Centre and has the amenities of Kelham Island on its doorstep, the residential element of the project includes 247 new homes, made up of studios, one bed and two bed flats all set around a landscaped courtyard. Close to the University of Sheffield main campus, meanwhile, the student scheme will consist of 658 student beds, comprising studios, cluster flats and townhouses, which also benefit from dedicated, private open space.
David Grover, Mace’s Chief Operating Officer for Development, said, “Sheffield’s industrial heritage is a key part of its history, and the iconic cementation furnace on this site is a fantastic example of how important it is to preserve that legacy. I’m pleased that the Council has recognised the potential of this scheme, and the importance of bringing forward much-needed high quality homes and modern, attractive student accommodation for Sheffield City Centre.”
The engineering and construction consulting industry in Sheffield has seen a number of occurrences in recent months, thanks to a large influx of businesses into the region. The first half of 2017 alone saw 35 firms relocate or move to the Steel City, with the newcomers taking up 170,000 sq ft in that time – almost as much as for the whole of the previous year. The exponential growth, on the back of various investments into office space by local authorities, continued through the year – seeing the arrival of Mott MacDonald among others – and well into 2018.
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