Developers Capital & Centric have started work to transform the former Cannon Brewery Site in Neepsend into a community space featuring new homes, green spaces, bars and cafes.
The 4.2 acre site, which was home to Stones Brewery from 1868 has been abandoned since it shut its doors 25 years ago.
Capital and Centric, who describe themselves as social impact developers, previously completed the Eyewitness Works in Sheffield’s Devonshire Quarter, which saw the former cutlery factory turned into 97 apartments.
They say they aim to ‘curate communities with neighbourhoods that last, focusing on design, energy efficiency and long term regeneration’.
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital & Centric, says inspiration to undertake the project came while looking down from the first floor of the Cutlery Works food court opposite the abandoned site.
He said: “I looked out into the night and it was just a black abyss, a kind of nothingness.
“I knew there were buildings there. But why are all the lights off? I was told it’s all empty, derelict, the family have owned it for a quarter of a century and no one can buy it, it’s not possible so don’t even think about it.
“When people tell me it’s not possible, you can’t do it, then I’m intrigued as to whether I can.”
The brownfield site was sold to the company for £4.5 million, and is expected to bring £200 million worth of investment into the city.
As well as creating 500 homes, the development will include offices, studios, multiple parks and areas of green space, restaurants, bars, cafes and a public square.
Mr Heatley said: “It’s going to be an eclectic mix of buildings and spaces that really adds to the tapestry of the architecture and the diversity of this emerging part of Sheffield.
“There’s a great community that already exists here, there’s clearly still empty buildings and derelict parts, but it’s emerging and we want to add to and amplify that by working with cool businesses that want to do cool stuff in this part of the city.”
Mr Heatley says the redevelopment plans ensure many of the most important buildings from the original brewery will be preserved and repurposed.
He added: “It’s a place we can reshape, we’re not going to obliterate something of merit that’s worth keeping.
“The majority of the older, interesting buildings that have been retained are an important part of Sheffield’s culture and heritage and we want to be able to celebrate that and have people be able to walk around and interact and understand them.”
With the demolition of unusable buildings beginning and set to run until March, and the developers needing detailed planning approval for the bulk of the construction, the timeline for the completion of the development has yet to be determined, but the project is expected to be finalized within the next few years.
As a result Mr Heatley says it’s important for the community to see the site as it progresses.
To make use of the empty space ahead of its official opening, it’s currently hosting a number of pop up padel courts based in one of the breweries warehouses.
He said: “it’s incredible to think its been sat there for 25 years empty and if you pop there now you’ll see padel courts with music on the go and a cafe as well.
“It just shows that a with a bit of ingenuity, and a bit of creativity you can take a place and see it thriving with people from six in the morning through till ten at night, that’s really, really important.”