Print page
Historic homes move with the times
Park Hill, Sheffield
A £146m transformation of the Park Hill estate in Sheffield got the go ahead in January 2007 with an agreement between English Partnerships, Sheffield City Council and developer Urban Splash.
Completed in 1961, the Park Hill estate was the most ambitious innercity development of its time and is recognised as Europe’s largest Grade II listed building. Covering some 13 ha, the estate contains around 1,000 flats as well as shops, pubs and other community facilities. But to meet the needs and aspirations of the broader housing market renewal partnership, an overhaul of this historic estate was needed.
In a unique funding arrangement, the Housing Corporation committed £9.85m up front to underpin the affordable housing for rent and shared equity units, while English Partnerships agreed a £14.8m grant towards the cost of redeveloping the remainder of the estate. This forward funding has allowed the refurbishment plans to progress more speedily and an additional £5.5m from Transform South Yorkshire (the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder) is covering the cost of tenant re-housing during the programme. English Heritage has also contributed £500,000 towards project costs.
Urban Splash has submitted detailed plans to modernise the total estate along with Manchester Methodist Housing Association to create a more balanced community.
The public commitment has brought in more than £100m investment from the developer who is confident that it will see significant returns from Park Hill as it strives to return the estate to its former glory and restore the pride of the community.
