Hundreds of jobs to be created as University of Sheffield submits plans for new facilities

The University of Sheffield has submitted plans for a new social sciences facility and sports centre on Northumberland Road.

The Faculty of Social Sciences is the University’s largest faculty, with more than 9,000 students, making up 34% of the University’s total student population.

The Faculty comprises 13 departments, several cross-cutting research institutes, and the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership. The Faculty has both classical social sciences disciplines such as politics and economics, but also practitioner-based disciplines such as architecture and the information school.

If approved, the new home of University’s Faculty of Social Sciences will include a research hub, which will provide departmental bases for the Departments of Economics, Politics, Sociological Studies, the Sheffield Methods Institute and the Faculty of Social Sciences office.

Plans have also been submitted for a new sports centre on Northumberland Road and new 3G pitches at the University’s Norton site.

The new 3G pitches comprise a shared 3G football and rugby pitches, and a dedicated 3G hockey pitch built, together with improved changing facilities.

The proposed sports centre on Northumberland Road, which will not begin construction until after the completion of the Social Sciences facility, will see increased gym facilities and a new swimming pool built for University students and staff, and the local community.

It is estimated the project will create around 220 jobs per year during the construction period with close to 100 more supported in the Sheffield City Region each year by indirect and induced effects.

Professor Gill Valentine, Vice-President and head of Faculty for Social Sciences, said: “We are truly excited about the potential that this facility has to offer students and staff, not only in the Faculty of Social Sciences but also across the whole University.

“The Faculty of Social Sciences is leading the way in impactful learning, teaching and research. The new facility will secure future development in these areas by bringing our students and academics together in an innovative, interdisciplinary environment.”

In total, the new building, its students and their visitors are expected to create an economic footprint for the Sheffield City Region worth some £84.9m in gross value added during its first year of operation in 2020.