Why Is Sheffield So Far Behind Many Other Uk Cities?

[Planner1]

8 hours ago, 26b-6 said:

Sheffield lags so far behind many other UK cities and towns in almost every measurable area, planning, innovativeness, transport, museums, urbanism, pocket-parks, architecture, new businesses start ups, street-art and so on....

How does it lag behind on transport?

 

Congestion is no worse than anywhere else.

 

Sheffield has had a tram system for over 20 years. People compare Sheffield unfavourably with Leeds but they have failed in 3 attempts to get a tram system. They look on us with envy.

 

Museums? I think ours compare favourably with those in similar size cities. 
 

As others are saying, some of the issue is geographical location, I’d say our location near larger cities such as Leeds and Manchester doesn’t do us any favours when looking to attract inward investment. Many seem to think we should be doing as well as those cities, but they are considerably bigger in terms of the populations of the city regions, so they get more government money and can often attract bigger investments.

 

My thought is, what is our unique selling point? The outdoor city? Is that going to attract the major investments people seem to  think we need?

[geared]

Trams are a massive plus point, especially compared to Leeds.  Even Nottingham only recently got one.

 

Big problem is that investment money just doesn't really make it's way out of London, and when it does it's going to larger cities.

 

The council can only do so much, if the money isn't there the money isn't there.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, ads36 said:

it's probably fair to say that Sheffield Council are reluctant to make big changes, but that's because the thousands of old people (who vote) hate change.

Simple answer is to get the young ones to turn out to vote.     No point not voting and then blaming everything  on the oldies who did.

Bit of news for you anyway. the politicians will do what they please however you vote so it's a case of living with it.

When Sheffield lost it's industry, it was never replaced with new jobs so we don't have the wealth we used to have. Those industries made a lot of muck but they made a lot of money too.

 

[ads36]

1 hour ago, RollingJ said:

That, if true, would apply anywhere.

after consideration, i think it does...

[Findlay]

Toilets.
We lack behind everyone because of the policy with toilets being shared by businesses operating in the City. The idea being is that people will go into the business and spend a penny or two.
I think you can tell the quality of a city by the quality of its toilets and Sheff doesnt have any public loos.
I would like to see a huge spiralling stainless steel chest height urinal outside the town hall

[Mister M]

10 hours ago, 26b-6 said:

Sheffield lags so far behind many other UK cities and towns in almost every measurable area, planning, innovativeness, transport, museums, urbanism, pocket-parks, architecture, new businesses start ups, street-art and so on....

 

Whom, why and what do think makes this town so far behind other places?

 

On the plus side though Sheffield City Trust appear progressive, Sheffield's westerly suburbs are interesting and it's close proximity to the peak district is appealing.

Can you quantify exactly how 

Sheffield lags so far behind many other UK cities and towns in almost every measurable area, planning, innovativeness, transport, museums, urbanism, pocket-parks, architecture, new businesses start ups, street-art and so on....

 

As far as pocket parks go, we have the 'Pound's Park' in the city centre which is really nice, and every time I walk past is being used by lots of people. In terms of architecture, I think we have some really nice buildings, and they're not obscured by a glut of soulless skyscrapers that other cities suffer from (e.g. Leeds and Manchester).

Many of the recent developments by the council are successes - Tudor Square, Winter Gardens, the public square at the bottom of West Street where there are lots of restaurants, the top of Charter Row, outside the train station all look significantly better than they did when I first came to Sheffield in the early 1990s.

As a city Sheffield's centre feels much safer than Leeds or Manchester. 

 

Historically Sheffield is behind Leeds and Manchester, because their primary industries deindustrialised earlier than Sheffield's, and I think that's a big factor to consider.

 

I'm not sure where the OP lives, but if it's Sheffield, I think it's a case of the 'grass is always greener'. I've lived in Leeds and Manchester, and there's a reason why I chose to reside in Sheffield. 

Edited November 15, 2023 by Mister M

[bassett one]

a change of council will sort it out and investment will come

[RollingJ]

2 minutes ago, bassett one said:

a change of council will sort it out and investment will come

You are living in a fantasy world - SCC will always be run by the same people, or their clones.

[HeHasRisen]

16 minutes ago, bassett one said:

a change of council will sort it out and investment will come

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[ECCOnoob]

3 hours ago, Mister M said:

Can you quantify exactly how 

Sheffield lags so far behind many other UK cities and towns in almost every measurable area, planning, innovativeness, transport, museums, urbanism, pocket-parks, architecture, new businesses start ups, street-art and so on....

They won't. They never do.  It's just another one of the endless generic whinging threads putting down the city, having a pop at the council for no reason and crying about why we don't have a Harvey Nichols.

 

Sheffield certainly doesn't "lag behind" many other cities. Some people really need to get out more.  Oh yes, comparing it to a few big players like Birmingham or Manchester is one thing, but for god's sake let's get real.  The city still a major entity and remains the fifth largest of all the Core Cities Economic Group.

 

It's employment statistics are on par with national average and in fact have higher rankings than both Leeds and Manchester.

 

The Sheffield City Enterprise Zone was recognised as a leader in the European rankings and reached into the top 25 of all the European city regions overall.  The city was ranked one of the second fastest growing UK economies in a study last month and on a couple of more informal surveys have found Sheffield to be up in the top 10s of most desirable cities to be living in, must visit weekend breaks and best towns for nights out, tourism and visitors by the way, which amounted to more than 15 million people at the end of 2022 and estimated 1.3 billion into the local economy.

 

The Times ranked the University of Sheffield as the 13th best UK university and even higher stats reaching 8th UK place and 42nd in the entire world for actions on sustainable development. It's student population of course, along with Hallam also making major impacts to our economy and development of the city.

 

Yes, the city has some areas that need improvement. Yes, there has been a major decline in retail with lots of empty department stores. Yes, there are major areas which are currently are building site and will be for some time -  but what's new?  happening in cities all across the planet. Cities are evolving all over.

 

"Grass is always greener" delusion is certainly right for some.  People always just look for the negatives when they live somewhere. They'll bang on about the neighbours allegedly doing so much better when they are certainly far from perfect either. 

 

For every shiny new Spinningfields, there is a Piccadilly Gardens....  For every Trinity Centre or Victoria Quarter, there's a Merrion Centre or Headrow....  For every Bullring and Mailbox there is a Corporation Street....   Even here, for every Kelham Island or Cambridge Steet Collective there is a Haymarket or Castlegate. 

Edited November 15, 2023 by ECCOnoob