'Once in a lifetime' town revamp will happen

A £24m project to revitalise a town, first announced five years ago, is still going ahead, according to the group leading the project.

Stocksbridge in Sheffield was one of the first areas to be invited to bid for Levelling Up money in 2019 and was awarded the funding in 2021.

The money is to fund a replacement library, business hub and education centre, alongside a new town square with renovated shop fronts.

Stocksbridge Town Deal Board has reassured people the scheme was still progressing and chairman Yuri Matischen said everything would be in place by 2026.

Mr Matischen, who led the project with former Conservative MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge Miriam Cates and is now co-chair with her successor Labour's Marie Tidball, admitted work was taking longer than hoped.

“The major project is the Hub, that is the centrepiece and we will be starting building work in six months’ time.

“The detailed designs and contractor are there and the planning application is through."

He said they were "keeping the foot to the pedal".

A planned hopper bus to improve access for residents to services, shops and facilities is not yet running.

Parts of the original scheme, a hydrotherapy pool at Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre and improvements to the Little Don river, have been abandoned due to inflationary pressures and rising costs.

This prompted a 330-signature petition calling on Sheffield City Council to intervene.

The shop fronts, which still have the faded banners celebrating the Tour de France which sped through Stocksbridge in 2014, will surround a new town square.

Mr Matischen said this part of the scheme was complex.

“There are so many different people involved. Every retailer needs to be involved and sign up.

“There are the landlords, who are different people to the tenants, and all these people have to agree."

He said negotiations with some of property owners were ongoing.

He also said the board has delivered a £700,000 skating park and awarded money to local rugby and football clubs.

“We have leveraged another £4m so actually the original £24m will end up being at least £28m.

“The money is in the bank and it is ringfenced for this project. We have an opening date of spring or summer 2026."

He said residents should "rest assured" the project would happen.

"It is once in a lifetime, let us make sure we get it right, rather than rush," he said.

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