Agenda item

11.1

The Executive Director City Futures submitted a report updating Members on the current position with regard to the proposed agreement for lease of the former Cole Brothers store in Barkers Pool and seeking approval to enter into an agreement with Urban Splash.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

(a) notes the current position and progress on the proposed agreement for the lease of the former Cole Brothers store in Barkers Pool since the last report to Committee; and

(b) agrees that the Council should now progress to finalising the Agreement for Lease as set out in Part 2 of the report now submitted.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The proposed Agreement to Urban Splash will result in the delivery of 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. The development will create space for new jobs, places to shop, eat and visit and will help to increase the vibrancy and attractiveness of the city centre for residents and visitors.

11.3.2

Urban Splash has a strong track record of working with many public sector parties. The proposed project team have redeveloped many challenging and listed buildings, including both historic and post-war structures and have expertise in engaging communities in redevelopment and delivering programmes of meanwhile use.

11.3.3

Bringing this vacant listed building back into active use will be hugely beneficial both for the wider city centre and the surrounding Heart of the City Scheme. Retaining the large majority of the structure, whilst improving the thermal performance and energy efficiency of the building, should have a positive impact on climate change.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

As stated in the previous reports to this Committee in August 22 and in March and June 23, the Council could decide not to progress with a disposal of the building at the present time. However, to do so would lead to further delays and uncertainty around what is an important building for the regeneration of the city centre and possibly reputational damage to the city’s image from many people both within and outside of Sheffield.

11.4.2

Retaining the building without securing its redevelopment will have financial implications for the Council both in vacant property management, security and holding costs and in potential blight suppressing values and interest in the surrounding property and the Heart of the City scheme

11.1

The Executive Director City Futures submitted a report updating Members on the current position with regard to the proposed agreement for lease of the former Cole Brothers store in Barkers Pool and seeking approval to enter into an agreement with Urban Splash.

During consideration of this item of business, and in order for Members of the Committee to ask questions on the exempt appendix of the report, it was RESOLVED: That the public and press be excluded from the meeting and the webcast be paused before further discussion takes place on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, if those persons were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information as described in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

The meeting was re-opened to the public and press, and the webcast was recommenced, prior to the decision being taken by the Committee.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

(a) notes the current position and progress on the proposed agreement for the lease of the former Cole Brothers store in Barkers Pool since the last report to Committee; and

(b) agrees that the Council should now progress to finalising the Agreement for Lease as set out in Part 2 of the report now submitted.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The proposed Agreement to Urban Splash will result in the delivery of 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. The development will create space for new jobs, places to shop, eat and visit and will help to increase the vibrancy and attractiveness of the city centre for residents and visitors.

11.3.2

Urban Splash has a strong track record of working with many public sector parties. The proposed project team have redeveloped many challenging and listed buildings, including both historic and post-war structures and have expertise in engaging communities in redevelopment and delivering programmes of meanwhile use.

11.3.3

Bringing this vacant listed building back into active use will be hugely beneficial both for the wider city centre and the surrounding Heart of the City Scheme. Retaining the large majority of the structure, whilst improving the thermal performance and energy efficiency of the building, should have a positive impact on climate change.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

As stated in the previous reports to this Committee in August 22 and in March and June 23, the Council could decide not to progress with a disposal of the building at the present time. However, to do so would lead to further delays and uncertainty around what is an important building for the regeneration of the city centre and possibly reputational damage to the city’s image from many people both within and outside of Sheffield.

11.4.2

Retaining the building without securing its redevelopment will have financial implications for the Council both in vacant property management, security and holding costs and in potential blight suppressing values and interest in the surrounding property and the Heart of the City scheme

(NOTE: During the discussion of the above item the Committee agreed, in accordance with Council Procedure rules, the meeting should be extended by a further period of 30 minutes).