City Estates is preparing to market its latest venture in its home city of Sheffield – a £10m development of apartments and studios, offices for the high tech and creative sectors and places to eat and drink close to the centre of the city.
A mix of new and refurbished former industrial buildings is taking shape in Sidney Street, which will see the student, residential and commercial specialists roll out the first phase of their latest addition to the Cultural Industries Quarter.
It will be called Alsop Fields, harking back to the name of the area in the 18th century.
The location is near Gatecrasher Apartments, a new complex of student apartments and studios on the site of a former nightclub that has already proved a successful development for City Estates.
Part of Alsop Fields will be Niche Buildings – 44 studios and apartments for students and other residents, plus two commercial units, in a new build on the site of another former nightclub.
Already, marketing specialists Jaywing are set to move into one of three other buildings.
City Estates director, Dale Fixter, said: “Alsop Fields is designed to be a destination in itself – a regeneration of part of the Cultural Industries Quarter that will be similar to the trendy parts of Manchester and London.
“The location is excellent – close to the centre of the city, a few minutes’ walk from the railway station and near Sheffield Hallam University.
“Instead of just student accommodation, we are creating an attractive mix of apartments and studios, places to eat and drink and offices for the high tech and creative sectors.
“Jaywing are bringing their staff to the area, which will immediately add life to the area.
“We have got quite a lot of speculative interest in the commercial space, and I’m hoping we’ll have some tenants in by September.”
Two of the buildings will have internal landscaped courtyards with restaurants and cafes, aiming to replicate City Estates’ success in converting Sellers Wheel, a former grade II listed factory, with its hugely popular café, Tamper, in nearby Arundel Street.
A new footpath is being created next to the River Porter that will be open to the public after completion of the site.
The whole development is due for completion by the summer, with the exception of the Niche block where work is expected to finish by the end of the year.
In the longer term, City Estates, the company that developed the flagship West One residential and commercial development on another fringe of Sheffield city centre, are planning to redevelop much of the opposite site of Sidney Street.
Architects for Alsop Fields are Cartwright Pickard, who were responsible for the design of Gatecrasher Apartments.
Each of the four elements of Alsop Fields will have its own character.
Niche Buildings @ Alsop Fields will have 36 standard studios, four deluxe studios and four one-bed apartments. No. 77 @ Alsop Fields will have six commercial units; Speedwell @ Alsop Fields will see the old Speedwell Works replaced by 16 two-bed apartments, eight one-bed apartments, eight studio/one-bed apartments and two studios, plus three commercial units;
The former Albert Works is the new home for Jaywing.