Plans have been revealed to drive forward the expansion of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park with a number of regional stakeholders.
Legacy Park Ltd will work with stakeholders, in particular Sheffield City Council, to lead the development of economic opportunities between Broughton Lane and Woodbourn Road in the east end of Sheffield.
To drive the expansion, a wider set of regional stakeholders have been confirmed. This is expected to include Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System, Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network and Sheffield City Trust, in addition to the original stakeholders of Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Hallam University.
Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is due to be completed in September. The AWRC will undertake research focused on taking services and products from concept to market – acting as a hothouse of innovation, bringing together those who make apps, activity loggers, health and sports equipment, orthotics and clinical devices. Its mission will be to improve the health of the nation.
The announcement follows a Cabinet Review in which Sheffield City Council and Legacy Park Ltd assessed the progress and impact of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park to date, as well as the economic and social benefits of the expanded vision.
In addition, Scarborough International Property Limited was noted as a preferred development partner to support the commercial development of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
The Rt. Hon. Richard Caborn, project lead for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, said: “We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved so far with Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and are excited about growing the London 2012 Olympic legacy vision in terms of economic regeneration, environmental improvements, local community benefits and an increase in sports participation.
“This expansion will allow us to bring underutilised or brownfield land back into use for development – converting low-quality land into international standard community and commercial space with a high-quality public realm.
“The plans mean more people in Darnall and Attercliffe will benefit from increased access to local amenities and facilities, health and wellbeing opportunities and employment, as well as bringing together public, private and academia to put physical activity and prevention at the heart of the NHS”.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Business and Investment at Sheffield City Council, said: “Once again, the Council’s decision to create a true and lasting legacy for the east end of Sheffield is being vindicated with plans moving forward and a real energy and buzz around Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. My thanks go to our partners who are helping to transform the area into a haven for sports, academic research and education.
“Expanding towards Woodbourn Road can only further accelerate the regeneration of Attercliffe and provide further confidence in this proud part of the East End.”
At Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, Scarborough is already under contract with the City Council to bring forward the Community Stadium, incorporating over 20,000 sq ft of business and conference space which is planned to complete next summer. The company’s immediate proposals for the next step at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is the development of a substantial first phase of office space as soon as possible in 2020 to build on the excellent foundation that the Legacy Park Ltd stakeholders have achieved with the school, college, sports pitch and the AWRC.
Speaking for Scarborough, Founder and Chairman Kevin McCabe said: “We believe in Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and the ability of Sheffield, my home city, to create and support a unique business environment that achieves Legacy Park Ltd’s ambitious vision.
“Scarborough International has been building its commitment to the project over the last two years, signing up last year to develop and run the Community Stadium, and we now look forward to accelerating the delivery of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park to bring jobs and economic growth back to the famous Lower Don Valley area.”
