Flats would transform city suburb
SCHEMES for two major residential developments which would transform an area of Sheffield with more than 500 new apartments go before planners next week.
One proposal is to replace Arnold Laver's former Olympic sawmill on Bramall Lane with a £25 million complex of 188 apartments and offices.
The other is to create 360 apartments for students in the Shoreham Street area nearby. If approved, that would bring to an end two years of negotiations between developers and planners.
West Yorkshire-based Magellan Residental has gone into partnership with Lavers to come up with their scheme.
Laver's 36-strong headquarters admin team would move to new offices.
The developers say the regeneration of the brownfield site, bordering Bramall Lane, Cherry Street and Shoreham Street, would provide a major boost to the area.
Stephen Day, Magellan managing director, said: "This mixed use scheme will lift the area. There will be a range of affordable housing from studios to four- and five-bedroom houses."
Mark Bower, of Arnold Laver, said: "Our headquarters team and the city will gain from prestigious new offices, the investment will boost to the local economy and the community will benefit from much-improved facilities."
If councillors approve the plans, work should start next summer, lasting two years.
The Arnold Laver Group – which started in 1920 – has already developed a new production centre at Holbrook.
Derwent Housing Association and Hawk Estates are behind plans for the second development, including 361 single-person flats on land at Shoreham Street and St Mary's Road.
The flats would be for students but developers want the option of housing other single people depending on demand.
A quarter would be suitable for wheelchair users.
The scheme follows two years of discussions with developers.
Officers will ask councillors to approve it at a meeting on Monday.
The plan is to demolish old outbuildings belonging to Princess Works on Shoreham Street to create a five-storey block of offices and flats.
More buildings on land at Shoreham Street, Brittain Street and St Mary's Road would go to create apartment blocks up to seven storeys high.
Developers have also agreed to fund and preserve historic buildings on the site.
10 September 2004
