Cannon Brewery has been derelict for 25 years. Credit: via Font

Cannon Brewery rebirth tipped for green light

16 July 2024 14:12 Neil Tague Comments (0)

Capital&Centric’s proposals to transform the brownfield Sheffield site in a residential-led project are expected to secure approval next week.

Sheffield City Council’s planning and highways committee meets on 23 July, with planning officers recommending approval for a hybrid application from the Manchester developer for the Neepsend site, derelict for more than 25 years.

Architect shedkm, planner Urbana, Planit and Curtins all feature in the professional team.

C&C’s proposals include retention and repurposing of the most interesting buildings from the former brewery alongside contemporary new-builds to deliver more than 500 homes, work and cultural spaces.

The site breaks down into two main elements. Credit: planning documents

An urban park and public square with shops, cafés and spaces for pop-up events are also on the cards.

The developer is working with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Sheffield City Council to make the blueprint a reality. Last September, the combined authority awarded an £11.67m grant to kickstart the revamp.

Tom Wilmot, joint managing director of Capital&Centric, said: “Neepsend will play a major role in Sheffield’s future. As the city’s popularity skyrockets, it’s important that the districts not only deliver growth but have a real sense of character and personality. Cannon Brewery has that in spades.

“Our plan is all about creating a diverse and interesting neighbourhood, with genuine community spirit, on a massive brownfield site that’s been derelict for decades.

“The recommendation for approval is another welcome milestone in the Cannon Brewery story. We hope councillors see the scale of opportunity and give our vision the thumbs up. It’ll allow us to getting going on site this summer to prep the site for its overhaul.”

The hybrid application covers full consent for partial demolition of buildings, and outline consent for new buildings and conversions.

Although the new-build elements are only outline at this stage, the design & access statement offers hints of C&C’s intent, with sections on the park space titled ‘Brewery Place’ and ‘Cannon Yard’ being billed as a pedestrian mews street.

C&C’s plans can be viewed in full at Sheffield’s planning portal with the reference 23/01746/OUT.

The developer is amid a purple patch of development, advancing projects across its native Greater Manchester, and also in places such as Wolverhampton and Stoke. C&C is working with Gateshead on the reinvention of its Old Town Hall and surrounds, and in Sheffield has taken forward the redevelopment of Eyewitness Works.