Supporting Vibrant High Streets in Sheffield Sheffield City Council has produced this brochure to showcase the most innovative and successful projects that have been carried out to support high streets across Sheffield, and to share our learning with others. There are three strands to our approach, these are refected in the sections that this brochure has been divided into: • Successful Centres • City Centre Management • Creative Sheffield The case studies summarise the issues the projects were aiming to address; how these aims were achieved; and what the impact of delivering the projects has been. Details of the latest projects can be found at: Successful Centres - www.sheffield.gov.uk/regeneration City Centre Management - www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/city- centre/management Supporting Vibrant High Streets Supporting Vibrant 2 There has been a great deal of investment During the summer of 2010, the council and improvement in Sheffield City Centre carried out extensive consultation as part of our plans to boost the city’s across the city to seek the views and economy and image, resulting in award- opinions of Sheffield people about their winning public spaces and facilities that District and Local Centres. We have we can be proud of. We are now applying developed a series of Thriving District the same approach across the rest of the and Local Centre Strategies. All of the city, as we want every community to have strategies can be viewed on our website: an attractive and thriving centre - a place www.sheffield.gov.uk/regeneration. where you can live, work, shop, meet and At the start of September 2010, relax. Sheffield City Council’s Housing and The Successful Centres programme Neighbourhood Regeneration Team (formally known as Thriving District and started work in four centres that were Local Centres (TDLC) is a priority for the chosen to pilot the Successful Centres council and a key initiative in creating programme. Following the initial pilot sustainable communities across the city. phase, further District and Local Centres have been included in the Successful Successful Centres - Our vision is Centres programme. that every community will have a centre Building up strong working relationships that acts as a focal point, where people with key partners in each area is an can come together. Centres will be a essential part of the programme to ensure source of pride for local people and each project is of high quality, maximises contribute to their sense of belonging to resources available, and creates a sense an area. Local people and businesses of ownership and pride whilst also will be able to get involved in improving ensuring the projects are sustainable. and looking after their centres, talk to The following pages highlight some of the council and other agencies about the work that the council has supported what works and doesn’t work and have across Sheffield over the past few years. a say on changes. Successful Centres 3 Attercliffe Start and completion date: 2010 - Ongoing Cost: £20,000 Why - A unique brand that celebrates Attercliffe is an historic centre with the heritage of Attercliffe has been many outstanding assets including its developed to create a positive and top class sports facilities and prime recognisable identity for Attercliffe. location in Sheffield’s main Lower Don - A clean-up day that brought Valley industrial and commercial district together the community and council and significant future housing potential. officers to clear the local car parks Despite much progress and the fact of litter and overgrown shrubs. that Attercliffe has a wide range of - In September 2013 the Town Team independent businesses, it suffers from organised a cultural festival. The a poor quality environment, noise and festival included market stalls for dirt associated with large vehicles, and a local traders, music and activities. persistently negative image. The festival increased the footfall to the area on the day and most Achievements importantly gained the buy-in of the • The Attercliffe Town Team has traders who wanted to build on the successfully brought together local momentum created and organise traders, stakeholders, and community further markets and events. groups and is currently creating a - A business directory database has positive momentum in Attercliffe with been created to encourage and their desire to change perceptions enhance inter-trading between local and make a positive difference. The businesses. following has been achieved through the work of the Attercliffe Town Team: Successful Centres 4 The chair of Attercliffe Town Team, Mohammed Mahroof, said of the Attercliffe Festival: “…For me the main outcome was the awareness that has been created and the trader buy-in. I would like to think we can build on this, with the traders/property owners and other stakeholders taking the lead.” Successful Centres 5 Banner Cross Start and completion date: 2012 - Ongoing Cost: £10,000 Mary Portas Funding Why • Banner Cross Centre has benefited Traders of Banner Cross contacted the from the ‘Totally Locally’ campaign, Housing and Neighbourhood Regeneration a national campaign to encourage team as they wanted help to raise shoppers to support local businesses. awareness of the quality independent • The Banner Cross traders utilise social businesses in their area. media as a means of advertising their upcoming offers and events to the local In 2012, the traders supported by the community. All of the traders contribute council submitted an application to to updating the Banner Cross Twitter the Mary Portas funding. This bid was account with photographs of their successful and the local centre of Banner products, customers and businesses. Cross received £10,000. The Twitter account now has over 2,000 followers. Achievements • The council commissioned WORK • A Town Team was established, through Ltd, a local charity which provides the group, a number of successful opportunities for people with learning seasonal events have been organised difficulties, to develop life skills to make with intensive support from the local hand crafted large wooden planters. neighbourhood group. These events Colourful flowers were carefully chosen have focussed on showcasing the to brighten up the area and improve independent businesses in the area customers shopping experience. The and increasing footfall. traders have taken over responsibility of the maintenance of the planters. Successful Centres 6 A local trader at Banner Cross reflected on the recently installed planters: “For so long I’ve been suggesting to fellow traders that making the place look attractive will ensure happy customers will feel special when they shop with us. They look absolutely stunning.” Successful Centres 6 7 Darnall Start and completion date: 2012 - Ongoing Cost: £300,000 (shop front improvement scheme), £50,000 (public realm improvements) Why Achievements Darnall has all the ingredients of a thriving • A Shop Front Improvement Scheme and successful District Centre; including has been launched by the council. The a strong and growing resident population, financial assistance covers cosmetic good range of shops, community facilities facelift to the front elevations of all and access to public transport. However, independent businesses within a the centre has a poor environment, with designated boundary. The scheme some buildings in a poor state of repair. In aims to improve shop fronts as a addition, there are a number high number means of supporting local businesses, of vacant units. improving the environment and raising the image of Darnall centre to the During consultation the following local population, visitors and potential improvements were recommended: investors alike. Work on the properties • Bringing vacant units back into use will start in March 2014. • A better range of shops • The repairing of poor railings, planting • Improved traffic management trees, and upgrading pedestrian walkways will also take place. • Better general appearance including refurbishing buildings, new benches, • Litter and fly tipping in car parks and flowers; creating public space behind some of the shops is a major problem. Council departments are • Make the area feel cleaner and safer working together on an action plan to inform and educate on litter and how to dispose of it correctly. Successful Centres 8 • To ensure that there is a joined-up approach to regeneration in Darnall, regular meetings are held bringing together all the relevant officers from within the council. These meetings have proved invaluable to promote collaborative working; ensuring that both knowledge and resources are shared and progress is made in the most efficient and effective way. Successful Centres 8 9 Hemsworth Start and completion date: 2010 - 2012 Cost: £25,000 Why hub and now successfully manage the Hemsworth is located in the Gleadless day to day running of the building and Valley area of south Sheffield. The main all the facilities it provides. shopping area is a small parade known • New signage has been installed to locally as Gaunt Road Shops. Whilst it signpost local amenities in the area. is serving everyday needs, such as a • A local artist worked with young people minimart and pharmacy there is a distinct in the area to decorate shop shutters. lack of community facilities. The centre This has brightened up the area and also suffered from a poor image locally, deterred graffiti. mainly due to the run down appearance; • A clean-up day was organised, including a number of vacant units as well bringing together the community and as anti-social behaviour. council services to tidy and improve the area outside of Gaunt Road shops. The main priorities local people identified during consultation included: making • Planters and hanging baskets have improvements to the environment around been placed in and around the Gaunt Road shops and improving the shopping parade to enhance the street management of anti-social behaviour. scene. • Canopies above shops as well as railings were re-painted, this Achievements contributed to the improved appearance of the area.