Homes England launches Sheffield partner hunt

The national housing body has started procurement as it seeks to bring forward twin developments worth a combined £290m in Furnace Hill and Neepsend.

Then-secretary of state Michael Gove announced £67m of Levelling Up Fund support for the pair of projects, billed as “catalyst sites,” at the Convention of the North, held in Leeds in March.

The plan is for 1,300 homes to be brought forward within the schemes. Homes England has now issued a contract notice as it seeks to kick the projects into action.

According to its project brief, Homes England is seeking development partners “with the requisite skills, expertise, resource and creativity to deliver the comprehensive development of two significantly important and ambitious residential-led mixed use development opportunities in Sheffield city centre”.

In short, any development partner would be expected to be able to create a masterplan, take proposals through planning, secure funding, procure construction and deliver the schemes.

In procurement terms, the development opportunities comprise two separate lots, with the intention being to shortlist three bidders for each following the initial selection period.

Homes England and Sheffield City Council have jointly prepared a development framework to guide delivery with this overarching goal: “To transform Furnace Hill and Neepsend into two distinct and vibrant, urban neighbourhoods, capitalising upon their historic and natural assets to create a varied townscape, with a network of new public spaces and streets to improve legibility and connections between the city centre and Kelham Island.”

Lot 1 – Furnace Hill

Furnace Hill is seen as a key northern gateway to the city centre, bounded by the major arterial routes of Hoyle Street and Shalesmoor to the west and north respectively.

The 6.4-acre site is mostly vacant or derelict, and  is bound by Shepherd Street to the east and by Meadow Street to the south.

There are significant heritage assets within the holding, including the Hoyle Street Cementation Furnace (a scheduled monument) and the grade two-listed mid-19th century Don cutlery works. Furnace Hill Conservation Area extends through part of the site.

Key aspects identified in the development framework include:

• 825 new homes
• 20,000 sq ft of non-residential uses
• Mix of one, two and three bedroom mid to high rise apartments and maisonettes
• Landmark tall building of “exceptional quality” at the corner of Shalesmoor/Hoyle Street
• Repurposed and transformed Don Cutlery Works
• High quality public realm including the new “Furnace Square”
• Indicative GDV of £165m.

Lot 2 – Neepsend

Neepsend is located along the River Don, just to the north of the A61 outside of the ring road, being bound by Penistone Road along its western boundary and Cornish Works to the south, beyond which is the Kelham Island neighbourhood, a regeneration success story.

In a separate scheme, Capital&Centric is already working in Neepsend, looking to transform the former Cannon brewery in a 500-home project consented this July.

The Homes England site mainly comprises vacant and/or derelict industrial buildings together with two operational uses, a Wickes store and the Westpack industrial building. The site extends to around six acres.

The site includes the grade two-listed Cornish Works, while the Rutland road bridge and Insignia Works are located adjacent to the site boundary and are also grade two-listed.

The Kelham Island industrial conservation area extends through the majority of the site.

Key aspects identified in the development framework include:

• 480 new homes
• 21,520 sq ft of non-residential uses
• Wide range of typologies including maisonettes, townhouses, low and mid-rise apartments
• Repurposed and transformed Cornish Works
• High quality public realm including the new “Artisan Square” and riverside walkway & pocket park
• Indicative GDV of £125m.

According to the award criteria as listed, weighting will be apportioned as 70% based on name quality, and 30% on price.

Interested developers have until 9 December to register their interest, with invitations to bid expected by 20 January 2025.

The process is being run through the ProContract procurement portal, where all details can be viewed.