Leah’s Yard open for business
The redeveloped grade two-listed Sheffield workshop complex intends to provide a city centre hub for independent businesses.
Part of the Heart of the City development phase that has also this year seen the Cambridge Street Collective foodhall open, the ground floor at Leah’s Yard offers retail and F&B, while the upper floors include homes for a variety of businesses, at present including studios for photography and podcasting, a charity HQ and a software business.
Sheffield artist Pete McKee has opened a gallery on the Cambridge Street side of the development.
The collection of small industrial workshops was saved from Historic England’s ‘Building at Risk’ register last year by the council and its strategic development partner for Heart of the City, Queensberry.
Cllr Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Having brought this part of the city back to life through our outstanding Heart of the City programme, Leah’s Yard represents the icing on the cake alongside Pound’s Park, Cambridge Street Collective and Elshaw House.”
Contractor Henry Boot handed over the 70,000 sq ft Elshaw House, the city’s first zero carbon-ready building, early this year.
McKee had previously said that he hoped to play a part in maintaining Sheffield’s distinctiveness by moving to the city centre, “to help be a part of our beautiful city’s new beginning – where we forge our own future and don’t look to be a poor copy of our neighbours up the M1 and over the Snake”.
