Sheffield approves acquisition of Stocksbridge building
Members of the council’s finance committee voted in favour of acquiring 517 Manchester Road for more than £636,000, despite concerns over value for money and potential liabilities associated with the building.
The council approved the purchase of the long-vacant former Factor shop as part of efforts to safeguard the delivery of the town’s £24.1m regeneration programme.
The property, which has been vacant for around eight years, occupies a key position within the town’s wider regeneration scheme and council officers warned that leaving the site undeveloped could “blight” broader ambitions for the town centre, as it sits in the middle of the main shopping area on Manchester Road in between the renovated 519 Community Hub Building and the Palace Theatre Mall.
Approved in 2024, the Stocksbridge 519 project was designed by CODA and comprises the demolition of an existing library and two other buildings to provide a three-storey building including a library, café and close to 15,000 sq ft of office space.
The acquisition of 517 Manchester Road is intended as an interim measure while the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board secures charitable status.
The board had originally planned to purchase the building directly but is currently unable to do so because it has not yet been formally registered as a charity. Councillors were told that delays at the Charity Commission mean approvals are taking up to 23 weeks, compared with the usual 10 days.
Under the agreed arrangement, the council will hold the property for up to six months before transferring ownership to the board once charitable status has been obtained.
The building is expected to play a mixed role within the regeneration programme, with commercial uses helping to subsidise an education-focused space.
The Towns Fund Board will pay the council £20,000 to cover the costs of holding the property until it is transferred. Officers also noted that there had not been sufficient time to pursue a compulsory purchase order.
In a further boost for regeneration and community infrastructure in the town, councillors also approved the release of a previously delayed £705,000 grant to the Towns Fund Board.
The funding will support the delivery of a new artificial all-weather football pitch at Stocksbridge Park Steels FC’s Bracken Moor Lane ground.
During the debate, cllr Jack Byrom questioned the rationale for the purchase and said members should approach the proposal with a “degree of realism”, noting: “The owner has had eight years to explore redevelopment options and if it were commercially viable, it would have been done by now.”
However, following a private discussion, committee members approved the purchase, with cllr Alex Parker saying: “The best case scenario is we have a charity that’s working for the benefit of the community, the space is well used and it is financially solvent.
“If it’s not successful, the building can be sold commercially, possibly at auction to make sure it gets the best value on the day.”
Speaking after the meeting, Ian Sanderson, Towns Fund Board member with responsibility for the Hub 519 project, said: “I am delighted that the purchase of the derelict former Factor Shop has been completed as this adds another key element to the masterplan, ensuring the major new Hub 519 project and the wider regeneration of our town centre are seamlessly connected, while also delivering much needed parking for visitors.
“Alongside the shop fronts and place making projects along Manchester Road, I’m very pleased that we have been able to bring the revival of such an important part of our town another step closer. It also offers a larger size of unit on the High Street ensuring a good mix of users and businesses for residents and visitors”
