Willmott Dixon lands Sheffield culture job

Event Central, a council community hub scheme part-funded with £15,8m of Future High Streets Fund support, will see the contractor refurbish a vacant building on Fargate.

Sheffield City Council has commissioned the project, at 20-26 Fargate, an area undergoing major public realm change.

Once the work has been completed, said SCC, the venue will create a useful community and commercial space, “showcasing Sheffield’s diverse talent with events, shows, exhibitions, workshops and talks all under one roof”.

Event Central could include a café/juice bar and a standing music venue.

Pre-construction activity has already started on the project, with the main construction phase inked in for January 2025 once the adjacent public realm works have been completed.

Cllr Ben Miskell, chair of Sheffield’s transport, regeneration and climate committee, said: “Event Central is going to be a fantastic and vibrant cultural hub for Sheffield and will offer a truly unique space for the city. We know that Sheffield is packed with talent, and this will be the perfect place to showcase it, attracting thousands of visitors a year.

“The transformation will also be a crucial part of our vision for Fargate, which is currently undergoing a transformation as part of a huge regeneration of the city centre.

“Once complete, Event Central will be able to take its place alongside the other fantastic venues we have in Sheffield, and we’re really excited with what it will bring to the people of the city. This and the wider development on Fargate is yet another example that Sheffield city centre is on the up.”

The hub is expected to be ready for opening in early 2026.