Improved approach to regeneration to deliver physical, social and economic benefits for Gleadless Valley

An improved approach to regeneration featuring Sheffield City Council, the community, partners and investors will see work towards physical, social and economic improvements take place across Gleadless Valley.

With the regeneration masterplan first published in 2022, it set out how physical renovations as well as social and economic opportunities could be implemented and harnessed to renovate a proud Sheffield community.

As residents may have seen happening across the country, rising costs have affected the start of any building work detailed in the masterplan. The cost increases are the result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and the cost-of-living crisis. We recognise this is disappointing for the Gleadless Valley community and we apologise for this.

Now, Sheffield City Council is looking to work with voluntary and community groups, delivery and investors to bring additional expertise, capacity and funding into the programme and make it more deliverable in a pressing financial climate, if approved at the Council's Strategy & Resources Committee.

To achieve this, Sheffield City Council plans to:

• Establish a new Gleadless Valley Partnership Board, bringing together residents, relevant community organisations and delivery partners with senior Council leaders to oversee the overall strategy
• Streamline the masterplan to focus on what essential works can be delivered quickly and efficiently
• Begin engaging more closely with the community, listening to frustrations over how the project has been implemented previously and working to re-establish trust in the project

Physical improvements to housing, making properties more energy efficient and renovations to public spaces, shops and local services will benefit residents and enable sustainable social and economic benefits for the community. The project’s improved approach to regeneration can help achieve this.

The Council recognises the community has had their expectations about the masterplan being implemented raised since consultations originally began in 2018. Over the next 12 months those conversations will be revisited. As a city, ‘Together we get things done’, and we look forward to working alongside those who will benefit most from the regeneration being completed – the people of Gleadless Valley.

While financial challenges will alter how the masterplan looks, the Council is determined to get its delivery right to benefit residents. But while new consultations begin, we want to reassure people work will not simply halt for the next 12 months, but will continue.

Achievements over the past 12 months include:

• The demolition of the former SheffCare site at Paddock Hill and pending demolition of Castelayn to make way for affordable homes
• Working with the Council’s planned repairs team to establish a task force to tackle all outstanding repairs in homes identified in the masterplan for potential demolition
• Redevelopment of Hemsworth Playing Fields
• Consultation and progression towards delivery of Spotswood Green Space with a focus on outdoor play for young people
• Improvements on the way for Newfield Green and Gaunt Shopping Precincts that will be funded through the Economic Recovery Fund, a grant fund to support local high streets

Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said:

“As a Council we appreciate that residents will be feeling frustrated at the actions which have not been able to be implemented from the Gleadless Valley regeneration masterplan since it was approved.

“We are looking at a new approach to implementing that regeneration masterplan to bring improvements for the residents of Gleadless Valley. We hope that we can continue working closely with you all to achieve this.”

Cllr Douglas Johnson, Chair of the Housing Committee, said:

“As one of the largest social landlords in the country, Sheffield City Council is committed to providing the highest quality housing we can.

“We know the residents of Gleadless Valley have been waiting for much-needed renovations to be carried out on the social housing in their area. The more focussed approach to this regeneration will help the council deliver on these proposals. A new task force to tackle all outstanding repairs will also help us improve the quality of available housing so we ask tenants to keep reporting repairs to us.”

Dean Butterworth, Sheffield City Council’s Head of Housing Investment and Maintenance, said:

Dean Butterworth, Sheffield City Council’s Head of Housing Investment and Maintenance, said: “Despite the challenges the Council has faced in delivering on this regeneration masterplan, there have been projects which have progressed well and we will continue striving to deliver on more of these in the future.

“The demolition of the former SheffCare site at Paddock Hill to make way for affordable homes is an example of how we working on the improvements outlined for the area. We know there is more to do, and we will concentrate on the delivery of the plan as a priority."

Elected members will be considering this new approach at the Strategy and Resources Committee next Thursday (29th August).

Further information will then be sent out shortly to those who were contacted last summer regarding building works. The Council will also be reaching out to Gleadless Valley residents to get their thoughts and opinions and will keep them updated regularly on progress.

To stay informed, please join the team’s Facebook group by searching for ‘Gleadless Valley Regeneration’, sign up for the newsletter, or visit the Council website.