Chinese investors plan to deliver five star hotel in Sheffield city centre

Chinese investors have announced plans to transform Sheffield’s Central Library into the city’s first five star hotel.

The project is part of the city’s partnership with Chinese construction company Sichuan Guodong Group.

Announced this past June, Sheffield City Council’s partnership with Sichuan Guodong Group will see the city benefit from £1bn-worth of construction projects over the next 60 years.

Sichuan Guodong is set to assess the feasibility of using the current central library building to develop the hotel, which would see the building moved to another site in the city centre.

The construction company has committed to maintain the current Graves Art Gallery with full public access, if the option of using the library building to develop a hotel becomes viable.

The Central Library building currently needs around a £30m investment to transform it into a new, modern library and cultural centre.

In addition to the proposal for a five star hotel, Sichuan Guodong is also looking to undertake a private residential development scheme in the West Bar area of the city.

Councillor Leigh Bramall, deputy leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We are four months down the line from signing this historic deal with Sichuan Guodong Group. There has been a huge amount of work to progress these projects and ensure that this investment will deliver real benefits for people in Sheffield.

“When we announced this partnership in the summer we said that it had the potential to be transformational for the city, unlocking hundreds of millions of pounds for the regeneration of the city centre. Delivering a five-star hotel in the city is exactly what Sheffield needs to support the vibrant, growing city centre we need.

“It’s important to be absolutely clear though that nothing is a done deal here. We are still at the early stages and this approval starts a 12-month process where Guodong will scope out the feasibility of the project.

“This gives us the time we need to look into the best options for the central library service, and we are absolutely clear that we will only do the final deal on this project if it is right for the city.”

Councillor Jack Scott, cabinet member for Community Services and Libraries, added: “The truth is that the central library building is not currently fit for purpose or accessible, and would require tens of millions of investment, to house the fantastic modern library service that our city needs and deserves.

“I understand that people want security and information about what will happen to the service. So we are being transparent about the process that we are going through.

“We know that library services are hugely important to people in Sheffield, and they are to me too. I can give absolute assurances that no matter what the outcome here, there will always be a city centre library in Sheffield.

“We will be using this twelve-month period to scope out options for where we want to locate the service if the deal with Guodong UK Limited does go ahead, and are talking to people in Sheffield about what they would like to see.”