Sheffield's transformation of the former Cole Brothers building

Image: courtesy of Sheffield City Council

Plans to transform the former Cole Brothers building in Barker’s Pool are one step closer with Urban Splash signing a lease for the building with the Council.

The ambitious plans will see the space turned into a mixed-use entertainment, leisure and retail venue.

In the coming months, the award-winning regeneration company Urban Splash will begin consulting with the people of Sheffield on their plans for the building and gathering thoughts and ideas.

The proposals would see the building become an exciting mixed-use scheme comprising flexible workspace and cafes/retail/leisure/cultural uses/event space which are all considered to be complementary uses to the rest of the Heart of the City project. Bringing this listed building back into active use will be hugely beneficial both for the wider city centre and the surrounding Heart of the City scheme.

Cllr Tom Hunt, Chair of the  Strategy and Resources Committee, said:

“It is fantastic to see another significant milestone achieved for this project. The former Cole Brothers building is an important and much loved part of Sheffield city centre and it will be great to breathe new life back into it. The work complements the schemes already being developed across the city including the Heart of the City, West Bar, and Fargate. We are creating a city centre that will be a destination for people to come and relax, shop, eat, work, and drink.”

Nathan Cornish, Group Board Director at Urban Splash, said:

“We are delighted to have been chosen by Sheffield City Council to regenerate this iconic building. Almost everyone I meet from Sheffield has a story to tell and we’re thrilled to be playing a part in its next chapter. We are still in the early stages and we are looking forward to consulting with the local community and stakeholders as we start to work up our plans.”