Drop-in sessions to find out more about plans to demolish a derelict building in the heart of Clifton Village and replace it with offices, shops and restaurants start this month.
Back in February site owners THAT Group finally submitted a planning application to transform the row of empty shops in Clifton Down Road - next to Boyce’s Avenue and King’s Road.
The application asks for permission to demolish the building which has become a blight for locals, and in its place build a three-storey property containing shops, a cafe/restaurant and offices.
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Proposals also include shared-surface highway improvements on Boyce’s Avenue and parts of King’s Road
There is no parking provision planned for the site, but the scheme includes a new integrated bus stop and taxi rank.
Cycle parking is also proposed for retail and office staff and visitors both internally and externally as covered Sheffield stands.
Twelve spaces have been allocated for the retail units and nine for the offices.
There is a long and complicated planning history for the site which dates back to 2010.
The derelict site, which used to be home to WHSmiths, was last used by the public in 2014 when a temporary Christmas ice-rink was opened there.
The ‘Clifton on Ice’ signage can still be seen on the building despite the rink only being open for one Christmas season four years ago.
And the area is now covered in graffiti and has become an “eyesore” for local residents.
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THAT Group has been trying to develop the site for a number of years but the plans have either been rejected or never materialised.
But this time the developer hopes to get local residents on side with the scheme in the hopes that there plans will finally get permission.
THAT Group has arranged two drop-in sessions where representatives from the owners, architects and planning team can answer any questions from the public.
The first is due to take place from 9.30am to 12 noon on Saturday, April 27 and from 5.45pm to 8pm on Thursday, May 2.
Both sessions will be held at Clifton Library in Princess Victoria Street.
The former owners of the site had been granted planning permission to redevelop it with shops and flats.
But revised schemes submitted by the current owners have not been as successful.
In 2015, an application to demolish the existing building and replace it with a mixed-use development of shops and flats was turned down by the city council.
A year later THAT Group came forward with a new scheme featuring a similar development but without the residential aspect, but this did not proceed to a formal planning application.
