Regeneration Plans Progress for Sheffield's Former Ski Village

[SheffieldForum]

 

Sheffield City Council is making progress on plans to regenerate the former ski village site at Parkwood Springs. Updates on the project will be presented to the transport, regeneration, and climate policy committee, highlighting recent developments and next steps with the site’s new developer, Skyline Lounge, a company based in New Zealand.

 

The ski village, which operated from 1988 until a devastating fire in 2012, has long been earmarked for redevelopment. Discussions with Skyline began after the council ended a lease with a previous developer in 2022. According to a council report, addressing the site’s condition and improving access were identified as critical steps before any proposals could proceed.

 

Funding Secured for Essential Improvements

 

In November 2023, Sheffield secured £19.4 million from the government’s Levelling Up fund after a previous bid in 2022 was unsuccessful. The funding will support several key improvements, including:

 

• A new access road with enhanced cycling and pedestrian routes.
• Environmental works, such as treating Japanese Knotweed.
• Upgrades to Parkwood Springs Country Park, including new mountain bike trails, a kiosk, and improved pathways.

 

The kiosk is now operational, and further improvements to the country park have been completed.

 

Next Steps: Masterplanning the Site

 

With funding in place, the council is finalising a memorandum of understanding with Skyline Lounge. This agreement will allow the developer to begin creating a detailed masterplan for the site. Once the masterplan is complete, the council can begin negotiations over the site’s development and lease arrangements.

 

The council hopes the regeneration will transform the area into a major regional leisure destination, benefiting communities near Parkwood Springs and attracting visitors from across the region.

 

A Vision for the Future

 

The redevelopment of Parkwood Springs marks a significant step in repurposing the former ski village site. By blending outdoor recreation with improved access and modern amenities, the council aims to create a vibrant community space that meets both local and regional needs.

 

The plans signal a new chapter for an iconic Sheffield site, offering hope for its revival as a hub of activity and leisure. Further updates on the masterplan and development timeline are expected in the coming months.

 

 

[SheffieldForum]

From Sheffield City Council:

 

Council’s ambitious Parkwood Springs plan progresses

 

 

Exciting plans to turn an area of land, part of which was once the site of the Sheffield Ski Village, into a Country Park in the city has continued following the confirmation of funding from central Government.

 

As part of the incredibly ambitious plans for Parkwood Springs, Sheffield City Council will create a new access road, including improvements to cycle and pedestrian access, and improvements to the public realm. Work will be carried out to develop the old Ski Village site, including the treatment of Japanese Knotweed, and further improvements will see mountain bike trails new paths and path improvement work take place.

 

Discussions with Skyline Luge of New Zealand have also continued, now funding is confirmed, and Sheffield City Council are putting in place a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow Skyline to masterplan the site.

 

Alongside exciting future plans a new kiosk in the park has been built and is now open along with a number of improvements to the country park.

 

Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said:

 

“Parkwood Springs is an incredibly important site in Sheffield, it had been used for many years by a whole host of people when the Ski Village. Since the ski village closed, the area has needed something to breathe new life into it. Our plans do exactly that, we want to create a country park in the city, a place for Sheffield residents and visitors to go, relax and enjoy on a daily basis. Confirmation of funding from the new government will help us to transform the area.”

 

Funding of £19.4million for the project was confirmed by the Labour Government in the budget at the start of November. That money will now allow the work to continue onsite including preliminary work on a new access road. The relocation of a local business has also progressed with a new site being identified for new purpose-built accommodation. This will allow the area to be prepared for the next stage of the transformation.

 

Cllr Miskell added: “Sheffield is changing, it’s transforming into a fantastic area, full of character and full of place, just like Parkwood Springs. What was once a busy bustling area, will be once again with a new regional leisure destination included that will further enhance the city’s reputation as “The Outdoor City”.

 

The regeneration of Parkwood is overseen by an Area Board, that includes key stakeholders, including community groups and is chaired by Gill Furniss MP for Brightside and Hillsborough, who said:

 

“Securing government funding enables us to progress with the exciting next stage of redeveloping the Parkwood site. Comparable in size to Hyde Park, this vibrant space is home to a number of community groups and projects, all actively contributing to the Area Board I chair.

 

Together, we’re working to create something truly exceptional—a giant urban lung for the city, providing people with opportunities to get out and enjoy our beautiful green spaces.”

 

[Gormenghast]

Very laudable project, but under the present circumstances wouldn't £19.4 million be better spent by the government on more pressing things in Sheffield?

 

A giant urban lung it may be eventually, but local  social care could do with more than it's getting at the moment.

[SheffieldForum]

49 minutes ago, Gormenghast said:

Very laudable project, but under the present circumstances wouldn't £19.4 million be better spent by the government on more pressing things in Sheffield?

 

A giant urban lung it may be eventually, but local  social care could do with more than it's getting at the moment.

 

Again, it isn't money the Council would have had anyway for anything else. 

 

It is a Government grant for this specific purpose.

 

 

[Gormenghast]

20 minutes ago, SheffieldForum said:

 

Again, it isn't money the Council would have had anyway for anything else. 

 

It is a Government grant for this specific purpose.

 

 

 

Yes I'm well aware of the conditions attached to it.

 

What I'm saying is the Government should have allocated it elsewhere in the current conditions in which they find themselves , e.g. Sheffield Social Services, which I would think are more urgently in need of money than a revamped ski village.

 

The 'giant urban lung' could hold its breath for a bit until the basics are sorted.

 

Social services is not such a good vote catcher though is it?

[elixa]

Must say I disagree with that view point. Not living in a dump and having spaces for leisure is pretty important for people’s general health and wellbeing. 
I agree that health and social care needs more funding but it shouldn’t need to be a choice made between them. Both things are important. 

[Runningman]

Will the new development be vandal proof ?

[SheffieldForum]

To give an idea, this is the company currently engaged to develop the site: 

 

They are currently spending about £30milion building one of their parks/attractions in Swansea.

[Stannington Lad]

Well I hope it comes off for them but I can't help but think that it's throwing good money after bad without total redevelopment of the area including the Parkwood Springs estate

[lavery549@yahoo]

Why did the original one close anyway ?