NEEPSEND SHEFFIELD
SITE C DESIGN ELEMENT ‘BREWERS YARD’
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING TRP6405 INTEGRATED PROJECT
190219855 MSC URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING
WORD COUNT: 1317 (EXCLUDING COVER)
CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND A NEW VISION FOR NEEPSEND
DESIGN ISSUES
Neepsend will be transformed into a sustainable area where people want to live and visit. It will be
Several design issues have been noted. These are:
an area symbolising Sheffield's heritage and growth, with traditional beauty and modern conveniences. The area will incorporate cultural and recreational amenities. Neepsend will grow as a diverse, cultural area where small, independent businesses will thrive.
ROLE OF SITE C In the Area Action Plan, Site C has a mixed use allocation because of existing uses in the surrounding area which house leisure spaces. Considering this, the redeveloped Site C will enhance the role that Neepsend plays in the success of small independent businesses. Site C will provide Neepsend with a leisure and work place destination; incorporating retail, restaurant/bar, sporting, art gallery, office and workshop uses, circling a central courtyard. It will become a location for independent businesses to thrive, providing residents with high quality leisure facilities, enhancing the economic and social prosperity of Neepsend.
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The triangular shape of the site may pose difficulties with full utilisation and provision of parking;
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The site is located in Flood Zone 2 and 3, meaning landscaped areas are crucial for drainage (Gov.UK, 2020);
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Proximity to heavy flow of traffic on Rutland Road;
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Neepsend doesn't currently have open green spaces;
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The site has “no historic or architectural significance” (Kilgannon, 2015);
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The site has been abandoned since 1999.
DESIGN POTENTIAL However, the site does provide design potential. These are: •
Proximity to Rutland Road will provide ease of access from the city centre and North Sheffield;
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The condition of existing buildings allows for demolition and redevelopment to provide high quality facilities;
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The location of the site has the possibility to provide views south, over Sheffield City Centre.
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Transport links along Rutland Road from the North of Sheffield to the city centre.
(All pictures author’s own)
LOCATION
Figure 1: Site in relation to Sheffield (DigiMap, 2020)
Figure 3: Site in relation to Neepsend and River Don (DigiMap, 2020)
Figure 2: Site in relation to Kelham Island and Neepsend (DigiMap, 2020)
Figure 4: Flood map (Gov.UK, 2020)
INSPIRATION Hatch, Manchester, is the main inspiration for Site C. Occupying a previously abandoned area of land, Hatch provides space for independent bars, restaurants and retailers to start their business. Hatch is focussed around a courtyard where customers socialise and listen to live music (Hatch, 2020). Inspiration has also been taken from several other developments. These include: •
London Road Fire Station, Manchester
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Baltic Market, Liverpool
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Stack, Newcastle
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Hardman Square, Manchester
Hatch, Manchester (Brown, 2019)
Hatch, Manchester (Brown, 2019)
Hatch, Manchester (Nazir, 2019)
Hardman Square, Manchester (SpinningfieldsOnline, 2018)
Stack, Newcastle (Kay, 2018)
London Road, Manchester (Schouten, 2017)
These developments have been successful in incorporating independent retail, leisure facilities and workplaces, with a courtyard. Material inspiration has been derived from developments located within Kelham Island and Neepsend. Ensuring the site’s design is permeable with the area’s historic character Is paramount.
Baltic Market, Liverpool (GenIntoThis, 2018)
Kelham Island, Sheffield (Author’s own)
DESIGN PRINCIPLES QUALITY OF THE PUBLIC REALM
DIVERSITY
High standard street furniture (seating, lighting and bins) will be present in the courtyard
The diversity of Neepsend will be enhanced due to the mix of uses and activities available; retail,
incorporating detailing significant to Sheffield’s heritage (e.g. Yorkshire rose). The roof pitch will be
bars/restaurants, office/workshops, an art gallery and a sporting area. This will attract a wide
altered accordingly, ensuring the courtyard does not become a wind trap and benefits from natural
customer cohort to the site. The mix of uses, vertically and horizontally, will increase diversity by
sunlight.
avoiding segregation and conflict. The courtyard could be used for events such as music, food or
The site follows a traditional urban space system, with blocks enclosing a high quality, positive space. This creates a sense of security as well as comfort and relaxation. The site will have roughly a 1:2
drink festivals, enhancing diversity. The central high quality planted area will also improve the biodiversity of the area, enhancing the biodiversity surrounding the River Don.
height to width ratio. Continuous active frontages will be used inside the courtyard and the exterior.
LEGIBILITY
CHARACTER
According to the Area Action Plan, site C as well as other sites to the north of Rutland Road, will be
patterned together to form an image for the area as a destination for leisure and culture, separated Materials, and colours, will enhance the heritage of Neepsend. Steel, brick and timber will be
from proposed residential areas to the south. The ‘node’ of site C aids legibility. The development
sourced locally. The height of the buildings will integrate with the topography of surrounding land,
will become a focal point where people travel to/from to use the facilities on site, and eventually the
taller to the rear and decreasing towards the River Don.
surrounding area. The area could eventually become a cultural district in Sheffield.
The Kelham Neepsend Action Plan states “new development should provide robust street frontages to reinforce the historic area” and modern materials such as glass, timber and steel can be used responsibly and vernacular features are supported. Due to the site’s history, the redevelopment will be named ‘Brewers Yard’, enhancing character further.
(ArchDaily, ND)
(Greer, 2017)
(Place NW, 2017)
(Sofia, 2018)
DESIGN CONTEXT LAND USES clockwise, starting at the office block and ending at block C.
Office Block:
Buildings on site will range from four floors to two. Heights will be staggered and decrease anti-
Access Passage (Flickr, 2010)
Rooftop Area (RooftopGuide, 2020)
Class B1a & B1c. Four floors. The building will be split equally between office and workshop uses.
ACCESS AND MOVEMENT Access will be via a 200m2 passage through block B, joining Neepsend Lane to the courtyard,
Block A:
ensuring access isn’t close to heavy traffic on Rutland Road and increasing visual permeability. This
Class A3, A4 & A5. Four floors. The building will be a mix of bars, restaurants and cafes. Half of the
could be widened to account for more of the ground floor of block B, depending on estimated profit
top floor will be an indoor bar or restaurant, with the other half being a rooftop terrace. The height of
margins, increasing visual permeability. Visitors will move between buildings by foot through the
this building will allow for a view of Sheffield city centre over blocks B and C.
courtyard. Sustainable travel will be encouraged through secure bike storage and access to public transport on Rutland Road. Underground car parking will be available for people employed on site.
Art Gallery: Class D1. Three floors. The art gallery will occupy all floors and will be a place for local artists and businesses to showcase their work.
GREEN AND OPEN SPACE
Block B
Class A3, A4 & A5. Three floors. 200m2 access passage from the street in to the courtyard. The
remainder of the ground and first floor will be restaurants, bars and cafes. Half of the second floor will
Redevelopment will focus around a courtyard with high quality paving, public art and seating areas.
be used for a rooftop terrace area.
The site will include three areas of open green space; central courtyard, and the roof terraces. These will increase the amount of high standard open green space in Neepsend, which the area lacks, whilst
Block C:
providing high quality public realm for employees and users of the site. The courtyard green space
Class A1. Two floors. The ground and first floor will be used for retail. The rooftop will be used as a
will also act as mitigation against flooding.
sporting area.
PUBLIC ART Public art from local artists will be place on the retained exterior wall and in the courtyard, similar to ‘Little Kelham’ . This will increase the quality of the public realm and solidify the redevelopment as a place where local businesses will grow.
Green Open Space (NineElms, 2018)
Public art & retained wall (Author’s own)
CONCEPT DIAGRAM Rooftop solar panels will aid energy sustainability
Block A Outdoor space in the centre of the building will be shielded from traffic noise from Rutland Road
Glass and brick active frontages across the site, in line with heritage and modern building standards. Glass allows for natural surveillance
Office/ Workshops
A wide mix of uses 
 will be provided 
 vertically and horizontally to encourage diversity and vitality
Mixed Use Restaurant/Bar Ground floor cut out for site access
Block B
Height of block A will allow for views of Sheffield city centre over blocks B and C
Retail with rooftop sporting area
High quality planted area acting as drainage and mitigation against flooding
Landscaping Art Gallery
500m2
Block A
Roads
1380m2
1309.5m2 Pedestrian Crossing
Block A
Paths
336m2
Block B
Existing wall retained to keep industrial/historical feel to the area
1260m2 Car park River Don pedestrian access will be in the entrance walkway Entrance away from traffic of Rutland Road and gives views of River Don. Potential to be Existing Businesses widened depending on financial appraisal
1424.5m2
Block C
High quality, attractive frontages to the remainder of the building inExisting line withBusinesses the heritage of the area Public art from local artists on wall facing Rutland Road
Scale 1:1000
View towards city centre View towards River Don dependent on Block A redevelopment
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NineElms (2018). The Sustainability Infrastructure of Nine Elms. [online] Nine Elms. Available at: https://nineelmslondon.com/features/the-sustainability-infrastructure-of-nine-elms/ [Accessed 27 May 2020].
Brown (2019). Hatch to get 3x BIGGER in time for Summer. [online] Manchester’s Finest. Available at: https://www.manchestersfinest.com/eating-and-drinking/hatch-get-3x-bigger-time-summer/.
Place NW (2017). Ask showcases proposals for Macclesfield town centre. [online] Place North West. Available at: https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/ask-showcases-proposals-for-macclesfieldtown-centre/.
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Flickr (2010). Harper and Row Building Underpass. [online] Flickr. Available at: https://www.flickr.com/ photos/jag9889/5221471705.
Schouten, C. (2017). Plans revealed for £60m London Road Fire Station revamp. [online] Construction News. Available at: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/buildings/project-reports/plans-revealedfor-60m-london-road-fire-station-revamp-11-05-2017/.
GetIntoThis (2018). Liverpool Sound City 2018 venue guide – a tour of the Baltic Triangle music hubs. [online] Get Into This. Available at: https://www.getintothis.co.uk/2018/04/liverpool-sound-city-2018venue-guide-tour-baltic-triangle-music-hubs/.
Gov.UK (2020). Likelihood of Flooding in This Area. [online] Gov.UK. Available at: https://flood-mapfor-planning.service.gov.uk/confirm-location? easting=435449&northing=387427&placeOrPostcode=Sheffield.
Greer (2017). Full steam ahead for Macclesfield’s £15m cinema scheme. [online] Macclesfield Express. Available at: https://www.macclesfield-live.co.uk/incoming/macclesfield-cinema-scheme-movesahead-12502207. Hatch (2020). Traders. [online] Hatch. Available at: https://hatchmcr.com/traders/.
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Kilgannon, L. (2015). HISTORIC BREWERY SITE TO BE DEMOLISHED. [online] Insider Media. Available at: https://www.insidermedia.com/news/yorkshire/132012-.
Nazir (2019). Spotlight: Hatch Manchester. [online] Retail Gazette. Available at: https:// www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/12/hatch-manchester-spotlight/.
Sofia (2018). Enhancing urban biodiversity and ecosystem services to make cities more resilient. [online] Oppla. Available at: https://oppla.eu/enhancing-urban-biodiversity-and-ecosystem-servicesmake-cities-more-resilient.
SpinningfieldsOnline (2018). Hardman Square Nears Completion. [online] Spinningfields Online. Available at: https://www.spinningfieldsonline.com/hardmansquarenearscompletion/.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING