Sparks fly over power at Sheffield coworking hub
More than a year after work began on the £14.4m conversion of the former Clintons card shop on Fargate, the council said the project has been delayed due to power connection problems.
The delay follows “changes to a previously agreed solution”, according to Sheffield City Council. Cllr Alexi Dimond, chair of the council’s transport, regeneration and climate committee, said: “This delay is hugely disappointing for both the council and people and organisations looking forward to using Event Central.”
Event Central was planned to feature a 200-person live event space and café-bar on the ground floor, plus four upper floors for coworking and meetings. The original opening date was the end of 2026.
Dimond added: “The project had an accepted electricity connection when the construction contract was awarded. Since that position changed, our teams have been working with Northern Powergrid and specialist contractors to find the safest and most practical alternative.
“Our priority is to secure the permanent power the building needs while limiting any impact to Fargate and protecting the investment already made in the area. We will provide a further update once the technical plans, costs and timetable are clearer.”
Completion is now expected in 2027. Council officers have been working with Northern Powergrid, Willmott Dixon and specialist utility contractors to find an alternative. This also includes wider discussions with Northern Powergrid to ensure capacity for any future developments on Fargate.
A spokesperson for Willmott Dixon said: “This is an intricate city centre refurbishment, on a constrained site, and like with so many similar projects of this type, when you get into the structure, it can then require additional work that provides a suitable long-term solution to enable the venue to be fit for its new purpose, on this occasion as an entertainment venue. Providing this robust alternative permanent power connection for the building will do just that, although because of this additional work, it will mean completion and opening is now expected in 2027.”
Work to find a solution could include trial holes in the road in October. Event Central is a regeneration project commissioned by Sheffield City Council and funded through support from Government and SYMCA.
