Next Steps Moving Forward For Old John Lewis Site

[Bargepole23]

29 minutes ago, Jack Grey said:

Urban Splash don't have any money

 

It's why it's taken them over 20 years to compete only 75% of the Park Hill redevelopment 

Regardless, they seem to be busy doing lots of development in lots of places.

 

I doubt they save up a load of money and then splurge it on a project. Just refinance their existing debt, and raise capital.

Edited December 18, 2023 by Bargepole23

[Baron99]

Update on the John Lewis site. 

https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/cole-brothers-developers-issue-timeline-amid-concerns-it-could-take-years-4538480

 

Concerns it could now take longer to develop. 

[RollingJ]

6 minutes ago, Baron99 said:

Update on the John Lewis site. 

https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/cole-brothers-developers-issue-timeline-amid-concerns-it-could-take-years-4538480

 

Concerns it could now take longer to develop. 

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[Baron99]

7 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

You have to register to read.

Developers have issued a timeline for a revamp of the former Cole Brothers store in Sheffield amid concerns it could take years.

 

Urban Splash is "very close" to signing a 250-year lease for the Barker’s Pool building with owner Sheffield City Council and launch public consultation in April.

 

It hopes to stage one-off and pop-up events on the ground floor by the end of summer and gain planning permission by the end of 2024, according to Mark Latham, development director at Urban Splash.

 

Redevelopment is set to start towards the end of 2025 and last until the end of 2027 - if everything goes to plan and there is the interest from occupiers, he added.

 

The firm has put forward plans to turn the building into cafes, shops, offices and events space. 

 

Urban Splash has been revamping Park Hill flats since 2004 and some Star readers were concerned 'Cole Store' could also take 20 years.

Mr Latham said: "It’s a very different problem. It’s a single building and a very significant, prime site and we’re almost coming in at the end of significant regeneration that’s achieved so much. It’s an usual position for us. More often we are in at the beginning having to change minds.

 

"With Cole Store, there’s a huge amount of goodwill and memories."

 

The former John Lewis department store is at the centre of the £470m Heart of the City II redevelopment zone. Funded by Sheffield City Council, it is set to include a Radisson Hotel, huge food hall, shops, workshops and offices, all opening this year.

[SheffieldForum]

The long-awaited transformation of the old Cole Brothers and John Lewis store in Sheffield city centre is gaining momentum as discussions progress.

Background

 

The iconic department store at Barker’s Pool, which closed in 2021 with the loss of 299 jobs, is set for a major overhaul.

 

Urban Splash, the developer responsible for the regeneration of Sheffield’s Park Hill flats, signed a 250-year lease on the building earlier this year. The company plans to redevelop the site into an entertainment, leisure, and retail venue named Cole Store.

Development Plans

 

Urban Splash has revealed that the ground floor will be the first part of the building to reopen, featuring food and drink outlets. However, public consultation is planned to gather input on the redevelopment.

 

Andrew Davison, Heart of the City project director for Queensberry, Sheffield City Council’s development partner on the £470 million city centre regeneration scheme, provided an update to The Star on the project’s status.

Timeline

 

“We would like to see works commence on that next year,” Davison stated. “The development agreement on that is progressing. It’s in its design and masterplanning stage, looking at what can it be, what should we do.”

 

“There needs to be a mixture of uses to complement what Heart of the City has done. There will be residential and there will be various uses like leisure, retail, food, and beverage. It’s about getting that balance right, considering that Heart of the City has delivered schemes already and those spaces are starting to get filled.”

 

Future Prospects

 

Urban Splash has indicated that if all goes as planned, work on the lower floors of the Cole Brothers building will start towards the end of 2025 and continue until the end of 2027.

 

Sheffield City Council leader Tom Hunt expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Urban Splash have got some really exciting plans for this building, and it’s going to sit alongside other exciting projects in the city centre - the Heart of the City scheme, Castlegate, West Bar and Fargate.”

He added, “We’re creating a city centre that will be a great place for people to come, live, work, enjoy and have a fantastic time here in the heart of our city.”

[Guest]

Dame Sharon White is the main problem with John Lewis, She doesn't use her retail experience as a customer, to make big decisions about JL. JL is/was a premium brand, but instead of having lots of knowledgable staff on hand to help customers she treats it like a supermarket. Although I think she made the right decision about Sheffield.

[TheCrofts]

So the proposed new name given by Urban Splash to the old Coles/John Lewis store is going to be “Cole Store”.

 

How long before it’s known as “t’coil oil”?