Member Article

Green light for historic Sheffield mill transformation

AMBITIOUS proposals for the conversion of a historic Oughtibridge mill into a food hall, community hub and leisure facility have been approved by Sheffield City Council.

The project will form the heart of Sky-House Co’s plans to bring a new generation of housing design excellence to the former British Tissues site.   Sky-House Co has already been given approval to create 35 of its acclaimed Sky House homes - the back-to-back housing concept created by the architects and planners at award winning Sheffield multi-disciplinary practice CODA - at the former industrial location in the picturesque Don Valley.   That development will consist of 24 three bedroom Sky Houses and six more three bed end-terraces along with a further five four bed riverside properties.

The old Mill Cottages will also be converted into four apartments and a cottage, bringing the total number to 40 homes.   And the latest approval by Sheffield Council’s Planning Committee will now see work begin on the conversion of the site’s existing mill building into a mixed use food hall, community hub and leisure facility, with facilities for start up businesses too.

“We are in talks with The Cutlery Works, who are very interested in the food hall development, which would bring a new dining experience to the north of Sheffield and serve what is set to become one of the city’s most ambitious residential developments,” said Sky-House Co co-founder David Cross.

 “The food hall will be a fantastic community, family and social space that will be of benefit not only to the people on this site but also for the north of Sheffield as a whole.

“It will bring to this part of the city a renewed sense of community and we also want to encourage independent businesses to choose this exciting new site as their home, creating a really refreshing mix of residential, commercial and leisure opportunities.”   Sky-House’s 21st century take on back-to-back housing creates sensitively dense, beautiful and naturally eco-friendly homes complete with their signature roof gardens, terraces and expansive windows.

“We have been overwhelmed by the phenomenal response to Sky-House and delighted at the way the concept is now spreading throughout South Yorkshire,” said David.

“We are also close to securing our funding package with Homes England, the public body that funds new housing in England, and they are very happy to back us as we continue to bring this new generation of great design property to the market.

“We are also very thankful to Barratts and CEG for inviting us to work alongside them at Oughtibridge, without doubt one of the most special new developments in the region.

“Designed locally by the great team from CODA Architects and CODA Planning and built by our local partners, this is a concept that brings together the very best of the region’s industry skills.

“We want to keep it local and help businesses recover from the devastating effects of the Coronavirus.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Highfield .