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Plans submitted for 300 million pound Meadowhall extension

By Danielle Wightman-Stone

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Retail

British Land, joint owner of Meadowhall in Sheffield, has submitted a detailed planning application to Sheffield City Council for a 300 million pound Meadowhall Leisure Hall, which will see a 330,000 square foot multi-level extension added to the shopping centre.

The proposal is part of a five-year vision to extend the leisure offering at the centre, to help further grow the appeal of the popular shopping destination, and will mark the next phase in Meadowhall’s evolution following the 60 million pound refurbishment which is underway and due to complete at the end of 2017.

The planning submission follows extensive consultation by British Land with a wide range of stakeholders, as well as public exhibitions that were held in June and October this year with 93 percent of respondents expressing support for the proposals.

The aim is to add dining and entertainment options not currently available at Meadowhall, as well as high quality internal and external spaces for events and community use. These include new restaurants, a state-of-the-art cinema to replace the existing cinema, a new café court, gym and additional leisure space. The plans also include a new open-air terrace that will allow visitors to dine outside.

The plans will see the 330,000 square foot Leisure Hall extension integrated with the front of the existing centre to create a new multi-levelled, landscaped open space.

Meadowhall looking to add leisure hall to extend offering

Other improvements planned include improving accessibility and parking at Meadowhall, with plans for high-tech electronic signage to show car park space availability, electric car charging points, pedestrian walkways, cycle parking and a cycle lane.

Sustainability is also central to the proposals, with solar panels planned for the roof of the new cinema to reduce carbon emissions and they will also provide at least 10 percent of the Leisure Hall’s energy consumption. There will also be a number of areas of new planting to help reduce air pollution and aid bio-diversity including the new multi-storey car park’s ‘green walls’.

The Leisure Hall will create 540 temporary jobs during its construction and up to 1,400 jobs once complete.

Charles Maudsley, head of retail and leisure for British Land, said: “Understanding and anticipating our customers’ needs is a key strategic focus area and the Meadowhall Leisure Hall proposals respond to the changing way people live their lives. The exciting 60 million pound refurbishment completing next year, the continued leasing success and Leisure Hall plans combined reinforce our commitment to ensuring Meadowhall remains an outstanding place for modern consumer lifestyles.

“The Leisure Hall will continue Meadowhall’s evolution, creating a place with a bolder, broader and deeper leisure mix. The plans will provide a number of benefits to the entire Sheffield City Region and are complementary to other schemes coming forward which together ensure the region plays a central role in the Northern Powerhouse.”

Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, added: “As consumers, retailers and Sheffield evolve, so too must Meadowhall. The Leisure Hall, however, goes much further. It will retain spend in the Sheffield City Region by ensuring residents do not need to travel out of the area to fulfil their shopping and leisure needs.”

Sheffield City Council is expected to make a decision on the planning application in spring 2017.

Images: courtesy of British Land

British Land
Meadowhall