Sevenstone slowly slipping away.

I'm only too happy to hear bad news about the Sevenstone development. Of all the 'Magnificant Seven' projects in Sheffield, this is the only one that will do more harm than good (I'll explain why another time). When the "New Retail Quarter" was put on hold due to the economic problems we've been having lately, that made the idea of its eventual death a possibility, even if not very likely. But a council meeting in May addressed the issue of the empty retail units, and decided to fund the refurbishment and temporary reletting of some of the units, bringing Sevenstone's demise a little bit closer.

Why? Well, it means that it's really not going to happen any time soon. The council will spend about £5,000 to £10,000 on some of the units which currently have green hoardings to bring them back into a usable state. The first units will likely be relet by the beginning of July, intially about eight in the Grosvenor block, with more coming back over the next few months, including the Pepperpot. The council seems wary of letting to businesses though, preferring charities and community groups. Financially it would be more sound to let to businesses because of the rates they pay, but I think the fear is that they'll prove too successful. If a good number of units have thriving businesses in them by the time building recommences, it'll provide another argument against Sevenstone going ahead.

The length of time these lettings are expected to run is also revealing. Not just six months or a year, but all the way to the end of 2010! Sheffield City Council must have asked the developer Hammerson's when they expected work to restart, and received the answer, "2011". Of course, that's no answer at all, as the main bulk of their planning permission dates from November 2006, and will last 5 years. If Hammerson's hadn't said 2011, then they would have as good as admitted that Sevenstone won't be built in it's current form - or even by them. They really don't have a firm date for when they're going to build Sevenstone, and it's becoming increasingly likely that something will give (say, funding) and the whole scheme will be dropped. Let's hope that happens, but I wouldn't be surprised if they hung on for a while longer.

The area covered by Sevenstone does need investment, that's undoubtable, but this is the wrong way for that to happen. Hopefully another scheme which is more sensitive and thoughtful will take Sevenstone's place, and Sheffield will see greater benefit in the long term.