The Heart of the City project represents the centrepiece of Sheffield’s urban regeneration, weaving together heritage, sustainability, and contemporary design to breathe new life into a key area of the city centre. The development was built on a JCT Design and Build Contract.
The Heart of the City project comprises three interconnected elements: Cambridge Street Collective – a social destination, Elshaw House – a flagship office building, and Leah’s Yard – studios created within historic metalworkers’ workshops. These three distinct elements, while serving different purposes, have been carefully designed to integrate into the urban fabric of Sheffield and contribute to the city’s ongoing regeneration.
Cambridge Street Collective
Behind the historic frontage of Cambridge Street – now ready again to host independent shops, retailers, cafes, and bars, is the Cambridge Street Collective – Europe’s largest purpose-built food hall. A new dynamic social destination for Sheffield, the two storey space hosts bars, restaurants, a cookery school and a rooftop bar. Its industrial scale and feel is reinforced by its raw fabric and finish, which is designed as a flexible canvas to accommodate a mix of requirements, including coffee meet ups and afterwork drinks, festivals, and cookery demonstrations. The black steel interior detailing and corten exterior cladding highlights its modern and industrial aesthetic. This element of the development also integrates a historic site, the Bethel Chapel, which has been sensitively restored to maintain its architectural integrity while being repurposed for use as a live entertainment venue. The development creates a dynamic space that encourages local engagement and community interaction, enhancing the vibrancy of the area.
Elshaw House
Another key element, Elshaw House, is an office building that combines modern design with sustainable features. Its striking dark metal façade, south-facing roof terrace, and efficient use of space represent Sheffield’s commitment to creating a sustainable, thriving economy. Providing 70,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, it has achieved an ‘excellent’ five-star NABERS UK rating due to its lean design. Its structure generates 40% lower than average carbon usage, placing it in the top one per cent of office buildings in the UK. Designed for maximum energy efficiency, the building employs the latest in fully electric heating, cooling and ventilation technologies. Elshaw House will serve as a beacon of modern commercial architecture, offering a versatile and sustainable environment for businesses.
Leah’s Yard
The Grade II listed Leah’s Yard has been transformed into a mixed-use development that pays homage to Sheffield’s industrial heritage. The development retains the original character of the space, with exposed brick walls and historic fixtures, while offering modern amenities for new occupants. Its central public courtyard is surrounded by boutique shops, while the first and second floors are now home to around 20 independent studios, a vital space for the next generation of the city’s craftspeople and creatives. Committed to preserving the historic fabric of the buildings and telling the story of Sheffield’s past, the low carbon and sensitive conservation of the workshops is a testament to the city’s commitment to preserving its heritage while encouraging growth and renewal.
Sustainability and Social Responsibility: A Core Focus
The Heart of the City project has gone beyond the typical scope of urban development by making sustainability and social responsibility key elements in its design and construction. One of the standout features is the use of sustainable construction practices and materials. Reuse of existing materials, lean design and low carbon choices have resulted in buildings with much lower-than-average embodied carbon. Future efficiencies, specifically related to energy use, have guided design decisions throughout the building and its construction. The ethos behind the scheme has been one of creating spaces that can be flexible and adapt to changing use and shifting demands – maximising its futureproofing potential.
In addition to its environmental commitments, the Heart of the City project has prioritised social impact. The development has created jobs for local residents, partnered with local businesses, and offered affordable spaces for start-ups and social enterprises, creating a more inclusive and sustainable local economy. Across the wider scheme Heart of the City will generate 7,000 direct and indirect jobs for the city by 2030 and looks to serve as a catalyst for development in other areas of the city.
The JCT Design and Build Contract was an appropriate and effective choice for the Heart of the City project, given the complexity and scale of the development. This contract structure allows for the seamless integration of design and construction phases, which is particularly beneficial for projects that involve multiple stakeholders and intricate requirements, as was the case with the Heart of the City project.
The Heart of the City development in Sheffield is a model of urban regeneration that balances heritage conservation with modern, sustainable design. Built under the JCT Design and Build Contract, the project has successfully met its ambitious goals, creating a space that serves the needs of both businesses and the community. The involvement of key stakeholders, from Sheffield City Council, and its strategic partner Queensberry, to architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, main contractor Henry Boot Construction, and the range of other specialists and consultants, have ensured that the development is not only a success from an architectural and economic perspective but also a beacon of social and sustainable responsibility.
Project Data
Start on site: November 2020
Completion date: August 2024
Total contract cost: Undisclosed – part of the £470m Heart of the City Sheffield City Council’s regeneration program
Contract: JCT Design and Build Contract
Area in m²: Gross internal floor area:
Elshaw House: 9,970sqm
Cambridge Street Collective: 4,655sqm
Bethel Chapel: 1,475sqm
Leah’s Yard: 2,445sqm
Total: 18,545sqm
Gross internal floor + External Terraces & Landscaping/Public Realm:
Elshaw House: 12,030sqm
Cambridge Street Collective: 5,860sqm
Bethel Chapel: 1,665sqm
Leah’s Yard: 2,920sqm
Total: 22,475sqm
Cambridge Street Collective, Bethel Chapel & Elshaw House
Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Masterplan Design: Leonard Design
Client: Sheffield City Council
Strategic Development Partner: Queensberry
Main Contractor: Henry Boot Construction
Planning Consultant: Montagu Evans & Nineteen47
Heritage Consultant: Montagu Evans
Structural Engineer / M&E / Fire/ Acoustic: Arup
Landscape Consultant: Planit-IE & Sheffield City Council
QS/Project Manager: Turner & Townsend
Approved Building Inspector: LABC Sheffield
Principal Designer: Turner & Townsend / Henry Boot Construction
Stakeholder Engagement: Counter Context
Leah’s Yard
Architect (Phase 2): Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Architect (Phase 1): Lathams
Executive Architect (Phase 2): Lathams
Masterplan Architect: Leonard Design
Client: Sheffield City Council
Strategic Development Partner: Queensberry
Main Contractor: (Phase 1 & 2) RF Joinery & Shopfitting
Planning Consultant: Nineteen47
Heritage Consultant: Lathams
Structural Engineer: Arup / Eastwood & Partners
M&E Consultant: Arup / Cuba Consultants & Coops EMBS
QS/Project Manager: Turner & Townsend
Landscape Consultant: Planit-IE / Lathams
Principal Designer: Turner & Townsend
Approved Building Inspector: LABC Sheffield
Stakeholder Engagement: Counter Context
Images: Dave Bewick