John Sisk & Son (Sisk) has been appointed by Sheffield City Council to carry out new landscaping, green planting areas and lighting that will see Fargate’s outdoor areas transformed into vibrant, welcoming spaces for all to enjoy.

Inspired by the award-winning Grey to Green project, over 2,500m2 of beautiful pocket parks will be created that will catch, store, absorb and clear rainwater and run-off from roads and pavements, as well as attracting birds and insects and creating a stunning green area for visitors and residents of the area to enjoy. Parts of the greenery will also be accessible as a play area for children to explore.

Complementing this, the large events area adjacent to Leopold Street will be enlarged and enhanced, with features such as public water points and bespoke seating.

To remove unsightly trade waste bins from the street, innovative ‘buried bins’ will be installed to enable businesses to sort and store their waste, and delivery vehicles will receive timed access to businesses via the installation of an automated rise and fall bollard system.

This work will support Sheffield City Council’s plan to unlock upper floors to create access for new homes and offices in key buildings. Known as the ‘Front Door Scheme’, separate front door entrances will be installed to buildings, enabling easier access to previously hidden parts of Fargate. The epicentre of this project will be a new six storey community hub, Event Central, where Sheffield’s diverse talent will be showcased, bringing together entertainment, culture, art, performance, co-working, exhibitions, workshops, talks and events.

Construction will start in April, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2024.

This project is funded by the South Yorkshire Combined Authority through the £50m Transforming Cities Fund.