Sheffield Retail Quarter plans receive support from international award-winning music composer

Internationally recognised award-winning music composer and conductor, Tolga Kashif, has voiced his support for Sheffield’s Retail Quarter.

Mr Kashif recently visited the proposed site of the retail development to learn more about the Sheffield Retail Development Group’s forthcoming plans, which include an anchor store and shops as well as offices, restaurants and bars plus a cultural and open space area.

The plans are part of the City Council seeking to collaborate with a strategic development partner, who can deliver the new retail quarter in the heart of the city centre on the area bordered by Pinstone Street, Barker’s Pool and Moorhead.

Mr Kashif is highly respected in the music industry and has credits ranging from the platinum selling single Perfect Day, television dramas and animations. He is also a composer and conductor for many Classical works including the chart-topping Queen Symphony with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and The Genesis Suite with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Furthermore, the team of composers he fronts is credited for many award winning film, television and advertising scores.

Mr Kashif said: “I am excited by the plans from the Group. It has fired my enthusiasm as to what can be achieved in Sheffield for music and culture using a city centre retail landscape. I intend to spend more time in the city understanding and developing the potential of this concept, which provides opportunities in engagement for education and the arts.”

Mr Kashif is a patron of the registered charity, Future Talent, which aims prioritise music in Primary schools across the UK.

Mr Kashif added: “I will be talking to colleagues at Future Talent and appraising them of the potential of the Sheffield plans. It is great to see this retail vision for Sheffield, using the city centre to engage with the community not only through a new retail offer but through a cultural offering which could provide a real legacy for the city.”

John Crowther, spokesman for the Sheffield Retail Development Group, said: “We are delighted that Tolga has taken such a keen interest in our plans.

“The redevelopment is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we believe with the support of individuals such as Tolga that we can offer a unique , enjoyable and sustainable city centre.”

In addition, the Sheffield Retail Development Group is continuing a consultation process to find out views about how the city centre can be transformed in the near-future.

The proposals from SRDG – made up of a group of Sheffield business people - are benefitting from the expertise from international organisations including architects and master planners Chapman Taylor, leading UK property consultants Central Retail and UK property and infrastructure advisors Capita.

Mr Crowther, who confirmed that SRDG had been involved in informal discussions with Sheffield City Council for more than a year, said: “We have significant financial backing and the passion of a local team to see the transformation of the city centre with a development by the end of 2018 - a year ahead of the city council’s proposed timescale.”